Sandoz appoints new Board representative to global AMR Industry Alliance

• Dr. Boumediene Soufi, global head of Sandoz AMR (antimicrobial resistance) program, to represent Sandoz as Board member of AMR Industry Alliance (AMRIA)
• The Alliance brings together about 100 life science companies / associations in search of sustainable solutions to curb AMR
• Sandoz, as largest global provider of generic antibiotics¹, is committed to a pragmatic and balanced approach to address this growing global health threat

Basel, May 27, 2020 — Sandoz is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Boumediene Soufi, global head of the Sandoz Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) program, as its new representative to the Board of the AMR Industry Alliance (AMRIA).

The Alliance is a coalition of approximately 100 biotechnology, diagnostic, generic and research-based biopharmaceutical companies and trade associations, formed to drive and measure industry progress towards curbing AMR.

Dr. Soufi, who was appointed to lead the Sandoz AMR program earlier this year, assumes the AMRIA role, representing companies in the generics industry section, with immediate effect.

He replaces Dominic De Souza, who will now dedicate himself fulltime to his role as Head Product Transformation, Global B2B. Sandoz would like to express its sincere thanks to Dr. De Souza for his committed efforts over the last few years.

Dr. Soufi said: “I am very humbled, honored and proud to join the Alliance Board and look forward to working with my colleagues across the industry to ensure a pragmatic and balanced approach to tackling this unprecedented global health threat, which is now estimated to be directly responsible for nearly 1.3 million deaths every year – as many as malaria and HIV combined.”

“Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine, treating previously incurable diseases and drastically reducing the risks of everyday medical procedures including surgery and chemotherapy. AMR, if allowed to spread unchecked, could spell the end of modern medicine. But we have a real opportunity to stop that happening – if we act together now.”

Dr. Soufi joined Sandoz in 2015 and has held progressively senior positions focusing on sustainable efficiency, digital innovation and leading the entire end-to end Sandoz anti-infectives portfolio / pipeline. He is a biotechnologist by training, specializing in the field of microbial quantitative proteomics.

Sandoz is the largest global provider of generic antibiotics¹ and the only remaining company with a major end-to-end antibiotics supply chain based in Europe (primarily Kundl, Austria), covering all production steps from active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to Finished Dosage Forms (FDF) for many leading antibiotics.

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About Sandoz
Sandoz, a Novartis division, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. Our purpose is to pioneer access for patients by developing and commercializing novel, affordable approaches that address unmet medical need. Our ambition is to be the world’s leading and most valued generics company. Our broad portfolio of high-quality medicines, covering all major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2019 sales of USD 9.7 billion.

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Interview on AMR with Richard Saynor and Lutz Hegemann of Novartis Global Health:
Opinion: 4 steps to stay ahead of antimicrobial resistance | Devex

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References

1. Source IQVIA PADDS Feb 2022
   
   

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