The time to address the antibiotic pipeline and access crisis is now

Drug-resistant infections kill 1-14 million people annually, surpassing HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a leading global killer, with two key challenges: a lack of new treatments and inadequate access to existing and new antibiotics. Despite progress in antibiotic innovation and access since 2016, major gaps persist, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where most AMR-related deaths occur. The 2024 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR highlights the need for effective solutions addressing innovation and access together.