Industry efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are failing to keep pace with the growing threat of drug-resistant infections, a new report indicates. The pipeline of potential new antibiotics has shrunk by 35 percent in the last five years, with only 60 projects in development from major research-based pharmaceutical companies in 2026, down from 92 in 2021.
Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO at Access to Medicine Foundation, stated, "The need for new antibiotics has never been greater." She warned that without significant change, AMR could lead to a devastating increase in deaths from preventable infections over the next two decades, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in poorer countries.
The current lack of infectious disease research and development (R&D) presents a major challenge. The report analyzed R&D from 15 companies, including GSK, Pfizer, Shionogi, MSD, and Otsuka. British multinational GSK remains a leader with 30 drugs in development, including preventive vaccines and antibacterial therapeutics.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when pathogens no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. This natural process is accelerating due to human misuse and overuse of antimicrobials. Currently, one in six lab-confirmed bacterial infections is resistant to standard treatments, according to the World Health Organization. AMR causes over 35,000 deaths annually in the EU alone, with millions more projected worldwide by 2050.
Children, particularly those in low and middle-income countries, are especially vulnerable. The report found only five pediatric drugs in the pipeline, with just 13 percent of projects developed for children under five. This leads to delays in approvals, even for existing antibiotics.
While seven innovative projects show promise, the overall development of new antimicrobials to combat resistance remains sparse. The report emphasizes that industry efforts require global reform in procurement, financing, and regulation to match the scale of the AMR threat. Without adequate funding, efforts will remain reactive, costing both lives and resources.