Report raises fresh concerns over rising drug-resistant infections

For The Nation, Precious Igbonwelundu covers key themes from the newly released 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark, including the increasingly important role that biotech firms are playing in the AMR space.

It highlights the different companies covered in the report, noting the Benchmark’s finding that overall performance among large, research-based pharmaceutical companies and generic manufacturers declined since the 2021 edition, with small- and medium-sized enterprises playing a growing role in the research and development (R&D) of new antimicrobial drugs.

It also highlights a key theme from the report – the importance of coordinated action by governments, policymakers, pharmaceutical companies and global health stakeholders to tackle AMR – quoting Claudia Martínez, Director of Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation:

“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.”