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By Doris Obinna
Drug-resistant infections are becoming a growing public health threat in Nigeria and across Africa as the development of new antibiotics slows worldwide, a new report has warned.
The 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark, released by the Access to Medicine Foundation during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, warned that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is spreading faster than new treatments are being developed, putting millions of lives at risk, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
According to the report, more than one million people die globally each year directly from drug-resistant infections, while antimicrobial resistance contributes to more than four million deaths annually. It further warned that without urgent action, deaths linked to AMR could increase significantly by 2050.
Countries like Nigeria were also identified as especially vulnerable due to high infectious disease burdens, limited access to medicines and the widespread misuse of antibiotics.
The report, which assessed the efforts of 25 pharmaceutical companies and found that innovation in new antibiotics is declining, also covered seven large research-based companies, 10 generic manufacturers and eight small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The evaluation reveals a worrying decline in overall industry performance since the 2021 Benchmark. Large research-based companies (LRBs) have reduced their investment in antimicrobial research, with a 35 per cent decrease in their pipelines.
The report also stated that several promising drugs are still in development by companies including GSK, Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Shionogi.
One example highlighted in the report is gepotidacin, a new antibiotic developed by GSK to treat urinary tract infections. It noted that about 150 million people globally develop urinary tract infections every year, and more than half of all women will experience one during their lifetime.
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It further stated that despite these developments, access to existing antibiotics remains a major challenge in many African countries. The report found that child-friendly antibiotic formulations are often not registered or widely available in several countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
The release also shows that this poses a major risk for children, who are more vulnerable to infections and may receive inappropriate doses when suitable medicines are unavailable. Five companies — Aurobindo Pharma, GSK, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries — were identified as performing better than others in registering child-friendly antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries.
However, major access gaps still exist in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Health experts warn that antimicrobial resistance is being accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, including self-medication and the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions in many countries. According to the report, tackling the problem will require stronger collaboration between governments, pharmaceutical companies and global health organisations.
The Chief Executive Officer, Access to Medicine Foundation, Jayasree Iyer, said the findings show that progress is possible but must accelerate rapidly.
“We can tilt the battle against superbugs in humanity’s favour. Our findings show practical approaches that can ramp up progress on all fronts,” she said.
The Benchmark also assessed how pharmaceutical companies are addressing antimicrobial resistance across the broader pharmaceutical value chain, including responsible manufacturing, stewardship efforts to ensure antibiotics are used appropriately, and systems to measure how many patients are actually receiving these medicines.
Director of Research, Access to Medicine Foundation, Claudia Martínez, stressed that stronger and more coordinated industry efforts are essential.
“From research and development through manufacturing to access and stewardship and measuring real-world patient reach, the Benchmark illustrates the potential for companies to develop more comprehensive approaches. But we need intensified, industry-wide action,” she added.
Experts say governments must also introduce policies and incentives to encourage the development of new antibiotics while improving access to existing medicines. For countries like Nigeria, strengthening the regulation of antibiotic use and expanding access to appropriate treatments will be critical to preventing antimicrobial resistance from becoming an even greater public health crisis.
