Industry efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are struggling to keep pace with the rapid rise of drug-resistant infections, according to a new report. The study highlights a worrying slowdown in the development of new treatments even as resistant pathogens continue to spread globally.
The report, published by the Access to Medicine Foundation, reveals that the pipeline of medicines targeting antimicrobial resistance has shrunk by 35 percent over the past five years. The foundation, an independent non-profit working to improve access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries, warns that the decline in innovation could significantly hamper global efforts to control resistant infections.
Declining Pipeline of AMR Drugs
The number of projects under development by large research-based pharmaceutical companies has dropped sharply. In 2026, only 60 projects are currently in development, compared with 92 projects in 2021. The decline signals a worrying gap between the growing threat of AMR and the pharmaceutical industry’s capacity to deliver new antibiotics and related treatments. Experts note that antibiotic development is scientifically complex, expensive, and often commercially unattractive, which has contributed to the shrinking pipeline.
Urgent Need for New Antibiotics
According to Jayasree K. Iyer, Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO at Access to Medicine Foundation, the global health community cannot afford to slow down innovation in this field. “The need for new antibiotics has never been greater,” she mentioned. She further warned that without significant change, antimicrobial resistance could lead to a devastating rise in deaths from preventable infections over the next two decades, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in low-income countries. Consequently, the lack of sustained infectious disease research and development (R&D) has emerged as one of the biggest challenges in addressing the AMR crisis.
Mixed Performance Among Pharmaceutical Companies
The report analysed the research and development activities of 15 pharmaceutical companies, including seven large research-based firms and eight small and medium-sized enterprises. Among the companies evaluated were GSK, Pfizer, Shionogi, Merck & Co., and Otsuka Pharmaceutical.
The findings show that GSK remains the industry leader, with a pipeline of 30 drugs, including preventive vaccines and antibacterial therapeutics. Among these are three innovative medicines currently under development.
Meanwhile, Shionogi has moved into second place, overtaking Pfizer, which previously held that position in 2021. However, overall progress across the sector remains uneven. The report notes that no company has yet reached its full potential in addressing AMR, indicating that far greater investment and collaboration will be required.
Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and stop responding to antimicrobial medicines. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist longer, and the risk of spread increases.
Although resistance develops naturally over time through genetic changes in pathogens, human activity has dramatically accelerated the process. In particular, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials in healthcare, agriculture, and animal husbandry have intensified the problem.
Rising Global Health Threat
Recent data from the World Health Organization illustrates the scale of the challenge. As of late 2025, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections is resistant to standard treatments. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance already causes more than 35,000 deaths every year in the European Union. As reported by eoronews.com, the global outlook is even more concerning. Between 2025 and 2050, bacterial AMR could directly cause around 39 million deaths worldwide if current trends continue.
