Global Collaboration and Immune-Based Innovation Take Center Stage in AMR Development

At IDWeek 2025 in Atlanta, Anne Kasmar, MD, MSc, senior vice president and global franchise head of Immunology & Infectious Diseases at Parexel, outlined how scientific advances, regulatory innovation, and global coordination are accelerating progress against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Her session, “Bridging Science and Strategy: Advancing Innovation in AMR Development,” emphasized the rapidly evolving landscape of AMR research and the shared responsibility required to curb rising resistance worldwide.

Kasmar noted that momentum is building across the field as stakeholders embrace a broader, more comprehensive approach to AMR. Referencing the recent UN General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR, she reinforced the message that meaningful progress will require unified action: “It’s got to be all of us in it to end it.”

A central theme of her talk was the need to expand AMR strategies beyond traditional antibiotics. Kasmar highlighted growing interest and investment in monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, bacteriophage therapy, and other emerging modalities. She underscored Parexel’s deep experience in these areas, noting the company’s involvement in programs spanning direct-acting antimicrobials, phage therapy, microbiome-based interventions, and immune-targeted approaches.

Kasmar also stressed the importance of strong regulatory partnerships, particularly as developers explore adaptive and platform-based clinical trial designs inspired by the accelerated regulatory pathways used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many new AMR tools—such as first-in-class bacteriophage therapies—will require close collaboration with regulators to define appropriate evidence standards and development pathways.

A long-standing researcher in infectious diseases and immunology, Kasmar emphasized that immune science will continue to shape the future of AMR innovation. She pointed to ongoing discoveries about the microbiome, immune conditioning, and host-pathogen dynamics as key areas poised to unlock next-generation therapeutic strategies. “The scientific frontier for infectious diseases will largely be immune-based,” she said.

Kasmar concluded by urging the field to adopt a forward-looking, innovative mindset. While direct-acting antimicrobials remain essential, she emphasized that the path ahead lies in expanding the AMR toolkit and embracing novel scientific and regulatory approaches to meet a 21st-century challenge.

Reference
Bridging Science and Strategy: Advancing Innovation in AMR Development. Session. Presented at: IDWeek, October 19-22, 2025. Atlanta, Georgia.