UK Decision to Cancel Fleming Fund Increases Urgency for Innovative Antimicrobial Solutions;
Ondine Biomedical Poised to Lead Fight Against Superbugs
The UK government’s decision to cancel the Fleming Fund — a cornerstone initiative in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — comes at a time when new projections point to an escalating global crisis, threatening millions of lives and the world economy. With models now suggesting drug-resistant infections will cost nearly $2 trillion annually by 2050, Ondine Biomedical’s advanced photodisinfection platform stands ready to address the widening gap in infection control and treatment.
The Fleming Fund had played a crucial role in supporting AMR surveillance and stewardship in low – and middle – Income countries, delivering early warnings and enabling coordinated responses. Its cancellation, leaves a dangerous void in the global health security net, as both The Guardian and leading experts warn of millions more deaths if resistant infections continue to rise unchecked.
The Cost of Inaction
Recent research by the Center for Global Development reveals the true consequences of AMR: drug-resistant infections already cost twice as much to treat as non-resistant infections. Without robust alternatives, the world faces annual GDP losses of $1.7 trillion by 2050 — devastating healthcare systems in the UK, US, and Europe most acutely.
How Ondine Biomedical’s Solutions Fill the Gap
Ondine Biomedical has a platform of economical light-based technologies — including its Steriwave™ platform — that offers an urgently needed response to the threat of multidrug resistant infections. Unlike conventional antibiotics, Ondine’s photodisinfection uses visible red light combined with a photosensitizer to target and destroy all bacteria, fungi and viruses — including highly resistant “superbugs” — in minutes, without contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
“Ondine’s medical devices are engineered to prevent and treat infections in environments where antibiotics are failing,” said Carolyn Cross, CEO of Ondine Biomedical. “As stewardship initiatives lose funding, our technologies provide a scalable, rapid solution that reduces healthcare costs, improves outcomes, and protects society against the rising tide of drug-resistant diseases.”
Proven Impact: Saving Lives and Costs
Clinical studies show that implementing Ondine’s photodisinfection technology in surgical and ICU settings can reduce hospital-acquired infections, translating into thousands of lives saved and millions in cost avoidance. Hospitals adopting Ondine’s platform report lower readmission rates, shorter hospital stays, and a dramatic reduction in the need for expensive last-resort antibiotics.
A Call for Investment in Proven Technologies
With the withdrawal of Fleming Fund resources and persistent aid cuts globally, the need for immediate, innovative interventions is clear. Policymakers, health systems, and philanthropists must urgently invest in non-antibiotic infection control to safeguard healthcare infrastructure, national security, and the world economy.
References:
- The Guardian: “Superbugs could kill millions more and cost $2tn a year by 2050, models show” (20 July 2025)
- Center for Global Development: [Forecasting the Fallout: The Economic Impacts of Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans]
- The Times: “UK fund to fight antibiotic resistance axed in astonishing cut” (17 July 2025)