Antibacterial pipeline trends and recommendations to enhance research and development: policy brief
Overview
The World Health Organization (WHO) policy brief, "Antibacterial pipeline trends and recommendations to enhance research and development" provides recommendations to strengthen R&D for antibacterials based on current trends in the antibacterial pipeline, as part of a comprehensive effort to address persistent global health challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
This WHO policy brief is based on the latest WHO pipeline report “2023 Antibacterial agents in clinical and preclinical development: an overview and analysis” and is intended to serve as a tool for drug developers, policymakers and funders of research and development (R&D) in AMR and basic AMR research.
The goal of this policy brief is to guide the implementation of strategies to respond to persistent R&D challenges and strengthen the antibacterial pipeline. It highlights the continued urgent need for innovative drugs to combat drug-resistant infections, particularly against priority pathogens identified in the 2024 "WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List, 2024" and other crucial gaps in the pipeline including drugs to address serious bacterial infections in the populations most affected, such as vulnerable patient populations.
The WHO policy brief emphasizes global coordination and collaboration to advance R&D for antibacterial agents.
