AMR Action Fund to help stimulate new antibiotic development to address this serious and growing public health threat

The COVID-19 pandemic which no one could have anticipated has reinforced the need to prepare for future global health threats now. This need extends beyond the pandemic to other serious global public health threats such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Unlike COVID-19, AMR is a threat Pfizer saw coming, and the company has been working to combat it for years. It is predictable and preventable, but Pfizer must act now to help stop the spread.

​​​​Antibiotics revolutionized medicine in the 20th century. Together with vaccination, they have led to the near elimination of serious threats from many infectious diseases worldwide. But, over time, bacteria change and adapt to the use of antibiotics, rendering them less effective. This makes it more difficult to treat common infections, leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.

Without action, AMR could lead to the deaths of 10 million people annually by 2050.²

New antibiotics are needed to help combat this growing threat. Unfortunately, the current development pipeline is lacking due to steep development costs, high risk of failure, long lead times and limited market potential – among other obstacles.

Enter the AMR Action Fund.

Pfizer joined more than 20 biopharmaceutical companies who are teaming up to fight back against the growing health threat of AMR. The Fund expects to invest more than $1 billion into the development of novel antibiotics with the goal of bringing two to four new antibiotics to patients by the end of the decade. Pfizer is proud of our $100 million pledge to support this important and groundbreaking industry-led initiative.

AMR spreads far and quickly, impacting people of any age and in any country – particularly those who are already facing health care inequalities and those with underlying health conditions. In addition to the human toll, the economic impact of AMR could be significant, and requires strong public health and prevention strategies.

Pfizer is proud of its legacy of fighting AMR and plans to continue investing in the ATLAS surveillance platform, the anti-infectives portfolio, and efforts in vaccines – which can help prevent AMR by stopping infections before they start.

The AMR Action Fund is a prime example of innovative thinking, collaboration and action to foster forward-looking, sustainable solutions. Pfizer’s participation is a natural extension of our commitment and efforts in the area of infectious disease.