Pharma companies press on in fight against drug resistance, yet lag in access to antibiotics.
The 2021 AMR Benchmark evaluates 17 companies with a major stake in the anti-infectives space, including large research-based companies and generic medicine manufacturers. By comparing how they perform across a set of 20 metrics, the Benchmark tracks the progress and gaps in their efforts to keep medicines and vaccines available, despite the rise of drug resistance.
Large R&D-based companies
Generic medicine manufacturers
Insights
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GSK maintains lead in antibacterial and antifungal R&D to target priority pathogens
GSK's pipeline is the largest evaluated, with 31 projects in the pipeline. It addresses more pathogens designated as ‘critical’ and/or ‘urgent’ threats, and has most vaccines projects underway.
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R&D pipeline grows, but remains small overall
Since the previous analysis, 22 projects have left the pipeline, but there have been 38 additions. As a result, the pipeline has modestly increased in size, by 15 projects, from 77 to 92.
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Sustained R&D for AMR from most companies
Only one of the eight companies evaluated is not currently active in R&D targeting priority pathogens. The remaining seven have sustained their involvement, and several have expanded their pipelines. Pfizer and GSK stand out for adding five and four projects, respectively.
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Which pathogens are receiving most attention in R&D
The World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control have identified the most dangerous pathogens due to resistance. The eight large research-based companies evaluated are developing 92 medicine and vaccine projects that target them.