Pipeline of new drugs to fight superbugs is ‘worryingly thin’, experts warn

The Guardian - World NewsEN 2 min read 100% complete by Julia KolleweMarch 10, 2026 at 11:53 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Experts warn that the pipeline for new drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs is dwindling, having shrunk by 35% in the last five years. The Access to Medicine Foundation and the Wellcome Trust report highlights a concerning decline in research and development, particularly among large pharmaceutical companies. This shortage threatens to exacerbate the already dire situation, with annual deaths linked to drug-resistant infections projected to double to 8 million globally by 2050. While GSK leads in antimicrobial resistance research, only Shionogi and Otsuka are the other big pharma companies that continue to invest in this area. The report emphasizes the urgent need for new antibiotics, especially in low- and middle-income countries where drug resistance poses the greatest threat.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Netherlands 30% United States 40% United Kingdom 40% Innoviva 50% AstraZeneca 50% Pfizer 60% Shionogi 60% Otsuka 60% GSK ×370% Jayasree K Iyer ×270% Wellcome Trust 70% Access to Medicine Foundation ×380%

Keywords

superbugs 100% drug resistance 90% antimicrobial resistance 80% antibiotics 70% drug pipeline 70% infections 60% r&d 60% healthcare 50% pharmaceutical companies 50% access to medicine foundation 40%