On August 21, 2020, AMR Alliance Japan held a symposium as part of the 94th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, entitled, “The Actions Required of Us Right Now.”

In addition to introducing the activities of AMR Alliance Japan, the symposium featured a panel of AMR Alliance Japan members, and highlighted the current actions that civil society, industry, and medical practitioners are all taking to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Participants discussed priorities for future policy action, focusing on the topics of antimicrobial stewardship, education for the public and medical practitioners about AMR, incentive models to encourage R&D, and efforts to stabilize the supply of antimicrobials.

AMR refers to the phenomena by which bacteria become immune to antimicrobial treatments over time as those treatments are used more and more. Infectious diseases brought on by antimicrobial resistant bacteria can be difficult to treat, and can even be fatal in worst case scenarios.

It is estimated that as many as 8,000 people die every year of AMR-related causes in Japan. The problem of AMR is growing worse across the world. If current trends continue, it is projected that by 2050, as many as 10 million people could potentially die of AMR-related causes globally every year.

HGPI has taken a leading role in AMR policy within Japan as the secretariat of AMR Alliance Japan, which works with member Japanese medical societies, healthcare companies, and civil society organizations to develop and promote recommendations toward stronger AMR countermeasures. AMR Alliance Japan released broad-based recommendations for AMR policy in July 2019, and is currently actively working to realize those recommendations. More information on the Alliance and AMR can be found on the AMR Alliance Japan website at https://www.amralliancejapan.org/en/

■Program Outline

Meeting Introduction
Hiroshi Kiyota (President, Japanese Society of Chemotherapy / Professor, Department of Urology, The Jikei University Katsushika Medical Center)
Ryoji Noritake (CEO, Board Member, Health and Global Policy)

Presentation: AMR Alliance Japan’s Role and Future for the Advancement of AMR Policies
Ryoji Noritake (CEO, Board Member, Health and Global Policy)

Presentation: Initiatives of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association for AMR
Yasunori Tawaragi (Director, International Affairs, Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association)

Presentation: From the Perspective of Industry
Takuko Sawada (Director of the Board, Executive Vice President, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.)

Presentation: The Response to AMR by Medical Practitioners
Midori Hirai (Chair, Pharmaceutical Education Committee, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan / Director, Japanese Red Cross Hyogo Blood Center)

Panel Discussion

Panelists:
Yasunori Tawaragi (Director, International Affairs, Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association)
Takuko Sawada (Director of the Board, Executive Vice President, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.)
Midori Hirai (Chair, Pharmaceutical Education Committee, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan / Director, Japanese Red Cross Hyogo Blood Center)

Moderators:
Hiroshi Kiyota (President, Japanese Society of Chemotherapy / Professor, Department of Urology, The Jikei University Katsushika Medical Center)
Ryoji Noritake (CEO, Board Member, Health and Global Policy)