Bangalore, 10 September 2020: The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) has established an eight-member India Advisory Group for research and development to maximize Indian knowledge and capacity in support of GARDP’s work to develop new treatments for drug-resistant infections, for every person who needs them.

 

Dr Anand Anandkumar, co-founder and chairman of Bugworks is one of the key advisors of this new group. The other 7 members are:

• Prof Y K Gupta, Principal Adviser (Project), THSTI – DBT ,Government of India,

• Dr Harish Iyer, Senior Advisor, R&D and Life Sciences Partnerships, BMGF ( Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)

• Dr Shrishendu Mukherjee, Mission Director, BIRAC ( Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)

• Dr Camilla Rodrigues, Consultant Microbiology & Chairperson Infection Control Committee, Hinduja Hospital

• Dr Zakir Thomas, in his individual capacity. Dr Thomas is a senior tax administrator

• Dr Kamini Walia, Scientist F – Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR ( Indian Council for Medical Research)

• Dr Suman Rijal, DNDi India Director will be the Secretary of this group.

 

"Bugworks is deeply honored to be represented in the India R&D Advisory Board of GARDP. The ultimate aim of GARDP which is to bring novel therapies into regions that have unmet medical needs in drug-resistant bacterial infections, resonates very well with both my personal passion and that of Bugworks," said Dr Anandkumar, who is also the treasurer of ABLE (Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises).

One of the key tasks of this group will include the development of networks and defining strategic priorities for research and development, as well as access, in India and internationally.

 

The objective of the advisory group is to support the development of new treatments by:

• Leveraging and strengthening research and development capacity within country (including the Lifesciences and pharmaceutical industry)

• Building partnerships and networks for mutual benefit

• Leveraging funding to optimize investments in infectious disease research and development and access

• Using the knowledge, expertise, and international networks of GARDP to benefit research and development programs and partnerships within India

• Interfacing with Regulators to sensitizing them on best practices including global data harmonization

• Interfacing with Government of India to help create sustainable market mechanisms to support AMR Innovation

 

The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) is a not-for-profit organization developing new treatments for drug-resistant infections that pose the greatest threat to health. GARDP works with partners to ensure sustainable access to treatments, promoting responsible use and affordability to all in need. Created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), GARDP is essential to delivering on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistanc

In August, GARDP had announced a collaboration with Bugworks Research, to work together with the objectives of maximizing the resources and impact of both organizations to accelerate the development and availability of lifesaving treatments. This includes working together for the preparation of regulatory strategies, in particular for clinical development programmes and post-approval studies.

“Bugworks has the dual advantage of doing research and development in India, which has a high burden of drug-resistant infections, while still being able to work with the best research organizations all over the world,” said Dr Santanu Datta, Bugworks co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer. “Through our collaboration with GARDP, we are uniquely positioned to spearhead novel antibiotic development that serves the Indian subcontinent, the ASEAN group of countries, in addition to the EU and Americas. Importantly, our collaboration with GARDP is focused on the development of antibiotics addressing unmet needs, including for paediatric and neonatal populations.”

ABLE member Bugworks has key role.