Combating Antibiotic Resistance

Resistance to antibiotics is a major public health crisis, with 700,000 people dying every year from drug resistant infections. We have 70 years of expertise in antibiotics and we’re committed to continuing our research in this area.

The most advanced antibiotic in our pipeline, gepotidacin, is moving into the final phase of clinical testing and in 2016 was granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product status by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which would expedite review of a future US filing. This novel drug was developed in collaboration with the US government’s Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority.

Our vaccines can also make a key contribution in this area by preventing bacterial and viral infections and averting the need for antibiotics. In addition, we have 15 potential new vaccines in our pipeline, including those targeting diseases like B Streptococcus bacterium.

In 2016, we opened the Institute for Infectious Diseases and Public Health in China to address local health threats posed by antibiotic resistance. We are working with other companies and government organisations to set targets to reduce antibacterial resistance, building on our commitment to the Davos Declaration on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance.

As members of the Innovative Medicines Initiative’s NewDrugs4BadBugs programme, we work in partnership with industry, academia and biotech organisations to combat antibiotic resistance in Europe. 

Read more: Antibiotic resistance