Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark Opportunities: Company progress since 2021
Date
21 November 2023
Since 2017, the Access to Medicine Foundation has been tracking how pharmaceutical companies active in the antimicrobials space ensure access to these products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Across three iterations of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark (2018, 2020, and 2021), the Foundation has pinpointed specific actions each major company in scope can take to combat drug resistance and ensure appropriate access to antimicrobials. Â
The 2021 AMR Benchmark set out 3-5 tailored ‘Opportunities’ for each of the 17 companies in scope, consisting of eight leading research-based pharmaceutical companies and nine generic medicine manufacturers. These Opportunities span the areas where they have the greatest potential and responsibility to limit AMR; specifically, R&D, managing antibacterial manufacturing waste, and ensuring appropriate access to – and responsible stewardship of – antimicrobials, such as antibiotics and antifungals.  Â
Now, the Foundation has released a report tracking the progress companies have made on each of their specific Opportunities over the last two years.
What’s in the report?
Companies are all different in the way they operate, where they operate, and in their portfolio of investigational and marketed products, which is why the Foundation set out tailored Opportunities for each company, accounting for R&D pipelines (where applicable), product portfolios, and other factors. Using data submitted by companies and information from the public domain, the Foundation conducted an analysis of whether there has been progress on each Opportunity.Â
This section of the report reveals collective trends, both in terms of action and inaction, shedding light on the factors that have influenced the extent of progress achieved thus far – and where more action is required from companies.Â
The final section of the report goes company by company, looking at the eight research-based pharmaceutical companies (GSK, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, Novartis, Otsuka, Pfizer, Sanofi, Shionogi) and nine generic medicine manufacturers (Abbott, Alkem, Aurobindo, Cipla, Fresenius Kabi, Hainan Hailing, Sun Pharma, Teva, Viatris) analysed in the 2021 AMR Benchmark. For every 2021 Opportunity, an update is provided.Â
For the web version, and to view each company’s original 2021 Report Card alongside the November 2023 Opportunities progress update, please see here.Â
Marijn Verhoef
Director of Operations/ Interim Director of Government Engagement & Policy
mverhoef@accesstomedicinefoundation.org
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