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UCT drug unit named as partner in AMR research
H3D, the integrated drug discovery and development centre based at the University of Cape Town (UCT) led by Professor Kelly Chibale, has been listed as one of five research organisations involved in a historic United Nations (UN) agreement to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
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The 193 signatories have agreed to tackle drug-resistant infections as a priority. The nations have committed to:
- Develop surveillance and regulatory systems on the use and sales of antimicrobial medicines for humans and animals.
- Encourage innovative ways to develop new antibiotics, and improve rapid diagnostics.
- Awareness-raising activities to educate health professionals and the public on how to prevent drug-resistant infections.
Currently, it is estimated that more than 700,000 people die annually due to drug-resistant infections such as TB, HIV and malaria, but because of the lack of global data, it is feared that the real number is likely to be far more. By 2050, if left unchecked, drug-resistant infections will kill 10m people a year and cost the worldwide economy $100trn.
Chemotherapy would not be possible and even simple surgeries, such as hip operations, could be become life threateningly dangerous.
To tackle this urgent problem, there is no time to duplicate effort, so governments, philanthropic funders and research organisations committed to working together at the highest level to ensure that these investments are made in the most coordinated and effective way, to get maximum impact for the public as rapidly as possible.
This coordination is crucial to ensure funding covers all the areas of greatest need such as TB and that money is available where it is most needed, for instance in applied research to bring products to patients.
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