Drug-resistant infections are on the rise – so why aren’t we getting any new antibiotics?

The article discusses the critical issue of AMR, where existing antibiotics are becoming ineffective against once-treatable infections. Despite the urgent need, the development of new antibiotics is lagging due to financial disincentives and the retreat of large pharmaceutical companies from the field. 

Lay highlights that many pharmaceutical companies market their antibiotics in fewer than ten countries, largely for financial reasons, which restricts access to essential treatments. This limited availability increases health inequities, particularly for patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who are at greater risk from drug-resistant infections.

Lay references the Foundation's recent report, which indicates that for five big pharma drugs targeting severe drug-resistant pathogens, there are concrete commitments to register them for use in only five LMICs. The Foundation continues to urge pharmaceutical companies to expand access and prioritise the registration of these drugs in underserved regions.