CARB-X Joins United Nations’ Global Effort to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Global heads of government will take multiple opportunities to discuss tackling antimicrobial resistance at the UN General Assembly.

Presidents, prime ministers, and other heads of state gathering in New York this week for the annual UN General Assembly will turn their attention to a global public health initiative headquartered at BU Law: the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X). CARB-X is a $350 million transatlantic partnership that brings together leaders in industry, philanthropy, government, and academia with the aim of rejuvenating the antimicrobial pipeline for the next 25 years.

During a panel discussion on Tuesday, September 20, top-level government officials from the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Kenya, Sweden, Japan, and South Africa will hear a presentation about CARB-X by Joseph Larsen, acting deputy director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. BARDA is the largest funder of CARB-X.

Additionally, this panel of private sector and not-for-profit leaders will discuss a major new commitment by 12 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, including all of the large companies still engaged in antibiotic R&D as well as major generic drug companies, to take concrete actions to reduce the development and spread of drug resistance.

On September 21, the UN General Assembly will discuss antimicrobial resistance at a high-level meeting that will feature pledges by global heads of government to tackling the issue, and will ratify a detailed outcomes document addressing a range of associated issues.

“This week the UN takes significant steps to reduce the health threat of antimicrobial resistance, with CARB-X as a key collaborator in the urgent global R&D effort,” says CARB-X Executive Director Kevin Outterson, professor of law and N. Neal Pike Scholar in Health and Disability Law at BU Law.