Story perspectives

Superbug Drug Pipeline Plummets, Urgent Action Needed

3/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

The pipeline for new drugs to fight superbugs has fallen 35% in five years, leaving 60 medicines.
If the trend continues, deaths from drug-resistant infections could rise to 8 million annually by 2050.
The Access to Medicine Foundation notes a lack of investment, with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Shionogi, and Otsuka pursuing antimicrobial research.
Urgent action is needed to manage antibiotic use and waste.
The European Commission proposes incentives to spur development.

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Story summary

The pipeline for new drugs to fight superbugs has fallen 35% in five years, leaving 60 medicines.
If the trend continues, deaths from drug-resistant infections could rise to 8 million annually by 2050.
The Access to Medicine Foundation notes a lack of investment, with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Shionogi, and Otsuka pursuing antimicrobial research.
Urgent action is needed to manage antibiotic use and waste.
The European Commission proposes incentives to spur development.