All over the Nordics the innovative power is gearing up to put new products, therapies, and preventive measures on the market that will tackle Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from various angles. 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’? Today, it is Scandinavian Biopharma’s turn and NLS asked Björn Sjöstrand, CEO, a few questions.

Your company is developing the first vaccine against ETEC, a type of E. coli bacteria which causes diarrhea in both travelers and endemic populations. How could this help tackle AMR?  

“Vaccines do play a pivotal role in preventing infectious diseases, with the potential to limit the spread of AMR infections, reduce the use of antimicrobials, and preserve the benefits and value of antimicrobials. There is today an urgency to develop new prophylactic vaccines which could play a critical role in preventing high-threat bacterial infections associated with AMR.”

There is today an urgency to develop new prophylactic vaccines which could play a critical role in preventing high-threat bacterial infections associated with AMR.

What obstacles are you facing that prevent your solution to gain a greater impact? 

“The role of vaccines in reducing AMR has been under-recognized. Vaccines are often seen only as tools to prevent specific diseases, rather than as part of the larger AMR strategy. Diarrhea, which is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), is often linked with high antibiotic use and frequent hospitalizations. This holds also true for travelers, who can easily access antibiotics on travel destinations.”

Vaccines are critical in the fight against AMR, and it is very rewarding to develop a vaccine to prevent diarrheal disease that could make a difference both children and travelers and at the same time play an integrated role in global AMR mitigation.

You are one of the many entrepreneurs committing your time and energy to break through with your products, can you share your WHY? 

“We know that our vaccine has the potential to become a valuable public health tool. ETEC infections are particularly common in children under 5 years in LMIC. Repeated ETEC infections can induce or exacerbate stunting and other forms of malnutrition. Stunting affects cognitive development which might determine a child’s ability to learn, their educational attainment, and future earnings, and it also puts children at risk due to other severe infectious diseases. ETEC is the most common pathogen causing diarrhea in travelers and could even develop persistent functional bowel disorders. Vaccines are critical in the fight against AMR, and it is very rewarding to develop a vaccine to prevent diarrheal disease that could make a difference both children and travelers and at the same time play an integrated role in global AMR mitigation.”

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.