2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark

The 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark, published by the Access to Medicine Foundation, evaluates how pharmaceutical companies are addressing the global AMR crisis through research, access strategies, responsible antibiotic use, and manufacturing practices. The report finds that while some progress has been made—such as a few newly approved innovative antibiotics and modest improvements in product registrations in low- and middle-income countries—the overall antibiotic development pipeline remains thin and industry investment has slowed. Access to effective antibiotics, particularly for vulnerable populations and children in LMICs, remains inadequate, and stewardship and responsible marketing practices still need strengthening. The benchmark highlights both good practices and significant gaps, urging pharmaceutical companies, policymakers, and global health stakeholders to increase R&D investment, expand access, and strengthen stewardship to prevent antimicrobial resistance from escalating into a far greater global health crisis.