Will antimicrobial resistance outpace research?

In the five years since the Access to Medicines Foundation released its last antimicrobial resistance benchmark, the pipeline for new projects in development has shrunk by 35% within large research-based companies.

In a new benchmark, the foundation continues to track the actions pharmaceutical companies are taking to combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, including the development of new products. AMR occurs when antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, stop working against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

Jayasree Iyer, the foundation’s CEO, said the data in the new report “tells a bit of a sobering story,” including a shrinking pipeline for both adult and pediatric products. While smaller biotech companies are attempting to enter the space, they lack the resources and reach to meet the challenge.