The bacterial challenge: Time to react. A call to narrow the gap between multi-drug resistant bacteria in the EU and the development of new antibacterial agents

A report published on 17 September 2009 by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) calls for greater development of antibacterial agents to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria that kill 25,000 people in the European Union every year.

The report was discussed at the Swedish Presidency conference 'Innovative incentives for effective antimicrobials', on 17 September in Stockholm. The Swedish Presidency is, as a priority, focussing on the lack of new antibiotics foreseen in the pharmaceutical sector and possible incentives for research and development of new effective drugs.

• Primary Source

EMEA/EDCD: Joint Press Release, 17.9.09 http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/human/antimicrobial_resistance/53394009en.pdf

Swedish Presidency of the European Union: Meeting and news: Conference Innovative Incentives for Effective Antibacterials, Stockholm, Sweden, 17.9.09 http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/9/17/conference_innovative_incentives_for_effective_antibacterials.html

EMEA: The bacterial challenge: Time to react, 2009 http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/human/antimicrobial_resistance/EMEA-576176-2009.pdf

EMEA/EDCD: Joint Press Release, 17.9.09 http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/Press%20Releases/090917_PR_ECDC-EMEA_Joint_Report.pdf

ECDC: News, 5.11.09: ECDC welcomes EU/US transatlantic taskforce on antibiotic resistance http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/news/Lists/News/ECDC_DispForm.aspx?List=32e43ee8%2De230%2D4424%2Da783%2D85742124029a&ID=320&RootFolder=%2Fen%2Fpress%2Fnews%2FLists%2FNews

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