Report raises fresh concerns over rising drug-resistant infections
The growing threat of drug-resistant infections is outpacing global efforts to contain them, raising serious public health concerns and putting millions of lives at risk, a new report by the
The growing threat of drug-resistant infections is outpacing global efforts to contain them, raising serious public health concerns and putting millions of lives at risk, a new report by the Access to Medicine Foundation has warned.
The warning is contained in the 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark released on Tuesday morning in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Summary of the report, which was released during a virtual conference, indicated that more than a million people die each year directly from drug-resistant infections, while AMR contributes to over four million deaths globally.
It warned that without urgent action, deaths directly caused by antimicrobial resistance could rise to nearly two million annually by 2050, while total deaths linked to drug-resistant infections might exceed eight million.
The Benchmark assessed the efforts of 25 pharmaceutical companies including seven large research-based firms, 10 generic drug manufacturers and eight SMEs biotechnology companies,
focusing on their roles in developing new antibiotics, expanding access to medicines and addressing the spread of resistance.
Findings showed that innovation in antimicrobial medicines was on the decline even as resistance grows. The report recorded a 35 per cent drop in antimicrobial research pipelines among major pharmaceutical companies.
However, it identified seven innovative late-stage projects targeting some of the most dangerous drug-resistant pathogens. The projects are being developed by GSK, Otsuka and Shionogi, as well as biotechnology firms BioVersys, F2G, Innoviva and Venatorx.
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Some of the medicines have recently received regulatory approvals, offering hope in the fight against “superbugs”.
Among them is gepotidacin, a new oral antibiotic developed by GSK for treating uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), the first new oral antibiotic class for the condition in nearly 30 years. Another drug, zoliflodacin developed by Innoviva, provides a new oral treatment option for gonorrhoea after decades without new therapies.
Globally, about 150 million people develop UTIs annually, while gonorrhoea infects roughly 82 million people each year and has become resistant to nearly every existing antibiotic class.
The report also highlighted gaps in access to existing antibiotics, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where infectious diseases are more prevalent.
Children under five are among the most vulnerable, yet child-friendly antibiotic formulations often take years to be approved or are unavailable in many countries. The report noted that Aurobindo, GSK, Hikma, Sandoz and Teva have registered paediatric formulations more widely than peers, covering about 50 to 70 per cent of the low- and middle-income countries where they market other antimicrobial medicines.
Despite this, access gaps remain significant. In 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, no child-friendly versions of these medicines have been registered by any of the companies assessed.
The Benchmark also found that overall performance among large pharmaceutical companies and generic manufacturers has declined since the 2021 edition. GSK and Aurobindo remained leading companies among their peers, while Shionogi recorded the strongest progress.
Small and medium-sized biotechnology firms were also found to play a growing role in antimicrobial research, accounting for nearly a quarter of pipeline projects, although limited funding and global reach constrain their efforts.
The report also noted improvements in some industry practices. For the first time, it assessed how generic manufacturers track patient reach, finding that six of the ten companies examined now do so across most of their antibiotic and antifungal products.
Claudia Martínez, Director of Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, said stronger and coordinated action across the pharmaceutical value chain is urgently needed.
“From research and development through manufacturing, to access, stewardship and measuring real-world patient reach, the Benchmark illustrates the potential for companies to develop more comprehensive approaches. But we need intensified, industry-wide action,” she said.
The report stressed that tackling antimicrobial resistance requires coordinated action from governments, policymakers, pharmaceutical companies and global health stakeholders to ensure the sustainable development, supply and responsible use of antibiotics worldwide.
