Walgreens Boots Alliance has confirmed it has registered to enter the UK’s Longitude Prize 2015.

The Longitude Prize is a global challenge that has been launched to help solve one of the greatest issues of our time – antibiotic resistance.  Entrants are challenged to develop a point–of–care diagnostic test that will conserve antibiotics for future generations and revolutionise the delivery of global healthcare. The test must be accurate, rapid, affordable, easy–to–use and available to anyone, anywhere in the world. It will identify when antibiotics are needed and, if they are, which ones to use.

Tricia Kennerley, Vice President, Director of International Public Affairs, Walgreens Boots Alliance comments, “We believe that the global scale of Walgreens Boots Alliance and the reach of our Community Pharmacy network is ideally placed to support the antimicrobial resistance agenda.  The use of point-of-care diagnostics can help identify where antimicrobials are required, as well as assess the appropriateness of any diagnosis and treatment. We are looking to work with a diagnostics partner to collaborate with to further develop our proposition and entry into the Longitude Prize.”

Boots UK launched a pilot of an innovative Sore Throat Test and Treat Service in 2014. The aim was to help patients affected by a sore throat understand their symptoms and be able to self treat simple sore throats using over the counter medicines, or touse antibiotics as appropriate.   The service includes an innovative throat swab test to check for Strep A infection, thus ensuring that antibiotics are only offered to those who need them. 

Tricia Kennerley continues, “Initial data from the pilot in the UK indicates that the majority of patients are being screened at the early stages, and only being offered testing (and subsequently antibiotics) where appropriate. The vast majority of patients, are being managed with advice and products for symptomatic relief, if necessary, demonstrating the potential for this service to reduce the use of antibiotics for the care of sore throats.  We are looking forward to developing further applications of this type of service for the Longitude Prize.”

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

The Longitude Prize is a £10 million prize fund that will reward a competitor that can develop a point–of–care diagnostic test that will conserve antibiotics for future generations and revolutionise the delivery of global healthcare. The test must be accurate, rapid, affordable, easy–to–use and available to anyone, anywhere in the world. It will identify when antibiotics are needed and, if they are, which ones to use.

The Longitude Prize has been developed by Nesta. It was launched by the Prime Minister at G8 in 2013, and through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is being supported by Innovate UK as funding partner.

 

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise in the world. 

The company was created through the combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in December 2014, bringing together two leading companies with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values and a heritage of trusted health care services through pharmaceutical wholesaling and community pharmacy care, dating back more than 100 years.

The company employs over 370,000* people and has a presence in more than 25* countries; it is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination in the USA and Europe. Including its equity method investments, Walgreens Boots Alliance is the global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail with over 13,200* stores in 11* countries. The company includes one of the largest global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution networks with over 350* distribution centers delivering to more than 200,000** pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in 19* countries. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing products.

Its portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Botanics and Soap & Glory. More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

* As at 31 May 2015 including equity method investments

** For 12 months ended 31 May 2015 including equity method investments

 

For more information please contact:
Clare Stafford, Corporate Communications, Boots UK
Email: clare.stafford@boots.co.uk  Tel: 0115 959 5995