Who are the people behind these innovations and why are they committed to work ungodly hours to fight what has been referred to as a ‘silent pandemic’? In a series of mini-interviews, Helena Strigård highlights different Nordic companies and investors sharing what part of the solution they bring to the table and how their impact can be leveraged globally. Today it is the founder and CEO of Phase2Phase Biopharma, Svante Almqvist‘s turn.

What are your thoughts on AMR Awareness Week?

“On a personal level, I recognize the emerging challenges associated with AMR. With my family largely dedicated to medicine, I often hear about its impact both in Sweden and globally.”

“In developed countries, over-prescription especially of broad-spectrum antibiotics often aims to maximize treatment, while in developing regions, frequent prescriptions stem from the higher prevalence of severe infections. This makes me realize that AMR knows no borders. Therefore, I believe WHO’s endorsement of a global action plan is key in raising awareness and addressing this issue.”

What challenges do you see within the development of new antibiotics?

“From a CMC- and regulatory standpoint, I do see several challenges stand out. Navigating classifications – whether a product is a medical device under 510(k) or a pharmaceutical – can significantly affect cost and timelines.”

“Developing new antibiotics involves addressing several critical factors, including spectrum of activity (what pathogens does it target?), mechanism of action (how does it kill or inhibit the pathogens?), resistance risks (likelihood of resistance emerging?), and safety and efficacy (ensuring the drug is both safe and effective through rigorous testing).”

“We all know that this is a long and winding road. Fortunately, there are global collaborations like CARB-X and SPIR that provide non-dilutive funding to AMR-related projects, helping to offset some of these challenges.”

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How do you view investing in AMR-focused companies versus other indications like oncology, neuro degenerative or orphan indications?

“As an angel investor, Phase2Phase is indication-agnostic. However, investing in companies addressing AMR is a unique opportunity to tackle a global health crisis with strong return potential, particularly as regulatory frameworks and incentives are being put in place to encourage innovation in this space. While oncology, neurodegenerative, and orphan diseases remain critical, AMR’s projected impact – up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 – underscores its urgency.”

While oncology, neurodegenerative, and orphan diseases remain critical, AMR’s projected impact – up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 – underscores its urgency.

“We look for high-potential companies with strong science and innovative approaches. We have either invested in or engaged in detailed discussions with several companies in this field, reflecting our strong interest. Examples include Lipum, targeting chronic inflammation via BSSL, with potential ties to AMR (invested), Omnio, developing protein therapies for infection-related inflammation (invested), QureTech Bio, advancing antibiotic alternatives designed to bypass resistance mechanisms, representing a paradigm shift in how we approach bacterial infections (discussing), and Colzyx, developing wound-healing solutions that address infections, a critical aspect of AMR management in chronic wounds (discussing). These companies align well with our vision of supporting high-impact innovations that address clear clinical and market needs.”

World AMR Awareness Week

A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015. One of the key objectives of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training. The World AMR Awareness Week takes place 18th to 24th November 2024.

Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.