Merck Collaborates to Address Antimicrobial Resistance

Merck, through a partnership with more than 20 pharmaceutical companies and organizations, aims to bridge the gap between the innovative early antibiotic pipeline and patients, with an investment of $100 million over 10 years in the AMR Action Fund. The fund’s collective goal is to bring two to four new antibiotics to market by 2030.
 
Rising levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can make current antibiotics less effective. As of early 2023, the AMR Action Fund has invested in five small biotech companies advancing research for new medicines to fight some of the most dangerous bacteria as determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
 
According to Merck, collaborative efforts that are key to addressing AMR include: policy reforms to support development of new antibiotics, responsible prescribing and use of antimicrobials, and tracking resistance trends, among others.