Actions that Asian funders can take FIGURE 12 Build better diagnostic capabilities at sub-national levels (e.g. laboratories, diagnostic machinery). Enhance primary healthcare in rural areas by building more hospitals and medical centres. Improve WASH facilities in communities. Support the establishment of data and surveillance networks at national and regional levels. Contribute to better infrastructure Provide scholarships to cultivate more talent in human health (e.g. medical personnel, allied health professionals, community health workers) and in animal and plant health (e.g. veterinarians, agronomists).Enhance capacity building and training Support community programmes that seek to educate farmers and patients on proper antibiotic use. Contribute to awareness building through innovative models (e.g. supporting establishment of model farms, training community-based healthcare agents). Invest in innovative funding mechanisms (e.g. subscription model, sub-licensing, test-bedding new ideas and models) to ensure sustainable supply of critical and necessary antimicrobials for humans and animals, such as drugs and vaccines.Build up protection in the community Sprint: Prevent2 Sprint: Educate1 Sprint: Monitor3 Marathon: Treat4 CASE STUDY 12 ClavystBio helps bridge the valley of death ClavystBio is a Singapore-based life sciences investor and venture builder founded in 2022, which seeks to accelerate commercialization of life sciences breakthroughs from initial concept to global health impact. The company has built a portfolio spanning therapeutics, medical technology and digital health, including solutions addressing prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. One of its investees, CoVBio, is an early-stage biotech company focused on novel pan-sarbecovirus therapeutics and vaccines to address the mutating nature of coronaviruses. In 2024, ClavystBio and co-investor Polaris Partners brought CoVBio into Leyden Labs, a Netherlands-based biotech company developing antibody-based nasal sprays, a pioneering non- vaccine approach to protect against respiratory viruses. CoVBio, now Leyden Labs Asia, benefits from Leyden Labs’ global management team and clinical development capabilities, while Leyden Labs gains unique access to Singapore’s innovation and the Asian market. ClavystBio sees its support as extending beyond simply capital input – in this case, it brought together companies with complementary capabilities to advance innovative, global solutions for infectious diseases. Venture capital funding for start-ups developing novel vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases is significantly lower than for other major diseases like cancer and cardio- metabolic diseases. This funding gap – seen across large pharma and biotech companies, public investors and venture capital – creates a particularly deep “valley of death” for infectious disease innovations to pass through on their journey towards commercialization. ClavystBio advocates an integrated approach to tackle this challenge. Public and grant funding can be used to increase awareness of infectious diseases and the urgent need for novel solutions to treat or prevent them. Catalytic capital can help de-risk novel technologies to the “proof-of-value” point, paving the way for big pharma to commercialize and distribute them. Successful innovation requires partners with sufficient development and commercial muscle, combined with the right networks and resources, to bridge the chasm into which so many biotech innovations fall. Source: Key informant interview.165Source: Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP). Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia 39

Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia 2025