A microbiologist reads a plate to check a bacterium’s resistance to carbapenem, an antibiotic of last resort. David Goldman / AP Photo
A microbiologist reads a plate to check a bacterium’s resistance to carbapenem, an antibiotic of last resort. David Goldman / AP Photo

World Health Organisation report warns antibiotics are running out



Just eight new antibiotics under development are viewed as effective in fighting the rising tide of drug-resistant infections, as the world risks running out of effective antibacterial agents.

A new report into global antibacterial development shows a serious lack of new antibiotics that will add real value to the arsenal available to doctors.

The WHO report found few new treatment options for antibiotic-resistant infections identified as posing the greatest health risk.

One of those risks is drug-resistant tuberculosis, which kills around 250,000 people annually.

The report identified 51 new antibiotics and biologicals currently under development to treat tuberculosis, anti-biotic resistant pathogens and diarrhoeal infection C-difficile.

Further concerns were raised due to the lack of new oral antibiotics due to come on to the market, seen as essential for treating infections outside of medical settings or where resources are limited.

“Antimicrobial resistance is a global health emergency that will seriously jeopardise progress in modern medicine," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general.

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“There is an urgent need for more investment in research and development for antibiotic-resistant infections including TB, otherwise we will be forced back to a time when people feared common infections and risked their lives from minor surgery.”

The WHO has identified 12 classes of priority pathogens that are becoming increasingly resisting to existing drugs.

Some of those pathogens cause common infections such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections which as becoming harder to treat.

The WHO said there is a growing concern about a lack of effective options for doctors to control outbreaks of potentially deadly infections of Klebsiella and E-coli, particularly in hospitals and nursing homes.

“Pharmaceutical companies and researchers must urgently focus on new antibiotics against certain types of extremely serious infections that can kill patients in a matter of days because we have no line of defence," says Dr Suzanne Hill, director of the department of essential medicines at WHO.

The WHO is also developing guidance for the responsible use of antibiotics in the human, animal and agricultural sectors, and infection prevention control.

More than €56 million (Dh246.4 million) has been pledged by Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, UK and the Wellcome Trust to help counter the threat.

The fund will contribute to further work by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, set up by the WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi).

"Research for tuberculosis is seriously underfunded, with only two new antibiotics for treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis having reached the market in over 70 years,” said Dr Mario Raviglione, director of the WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme.

“If we are to end tuberculosis, more than US$ 800 million per year is urgently needed to fund research for new anti-tuberculosis medicines.”

A pharmaco-economic forum hosted by the Ministry of Health and Prevention with leaders from the GCC is being held in Dubai On September 28-29 where drug pricing and the latest pharmaceutical developments for the region will be discussed.

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Scores

Day 2

New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227

New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

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UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

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The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

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On sale: Now

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.