Investment in Antibiotic R&D

Revitalizing the antibiotic and antifungal market will require governments to increase both push and pull financing, and companies to step up with more investments.

Evidence: Currently, there is no single source of reporting on total antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and research & development (R&D) funding across public and private sectors. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP86, OP89, OP91.

Investment in Non-antibiotic R&D

Greater public and private investment is needed for non-antibiotic tools for fighting AMR, like vaccines, diagnostics, and non-antibiotic therapeutics, which help prevent the spread of infections and ensure proper treatment with and without antibiotics.

Evidence: WHO reported that of 252 antibacterial agents in preclinical development, over one-third were non-traditional products. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP87, OP88, OP90.

Equitable Financing of NAP Implementation

Implementation of national action plans (NAPs) must be enabled through increased financing, especially from domestic health budgets and with catalytic support from the Multipartner Trust Fund (MPTF).

Evidence: Although 178 countries have NAPs, only 11% have national budgets allocated to their implementation. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP31, OP32, OP34, OP35, OP36.

Multi-Partner Trust Fund

Increased and diversified investment in the MPTF will enhance country-led action on AMR through strategic collaboration, sustainable streams of capital, and context-specific projects that promote localized ‘One Health’ National Action Plans.

Evidence: Since established in 2019, the MPTF has received contributions from just six donors, all of which are governments. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP28, OP36.

Investment in WASH

WASH in healthcare facilities should be at the center of global policy and financing commitments on AMR and pandemic prevention.

Evidence: Current estimates suggest that the majority of hospital acquired infections are resistant to first-line drugs. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP37, OP62.

Cost-effectiveness and ROI

A robust package of AMR interventions across sectors would not only prevent massive health and mortality burden due to AMR, but also lead to significant returns on the investments made.

Evidence: Addressing AMR can be highly cost-effective, offering a rate of return on investment of 88% per year. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in PP6.

Coordinating Financing

As the global health financing landscape evolves, governments and donor partners must effectively coordinate AMR financing to secure efficiency gains and sustainable financial flows.

Evidence: Recent donor announcements point toward an unprecedented strain in global aid, with estimates showing a nearly 20% drop in ODA. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP33, OP35, OP37.

Engaging MDBs and RDBs

Developing innovative and blended financing mechanisms with the support of multilateral development banks (MDBs) and regional development banks (RDBs) is needed to encourage new forms of investments via public-private partnerships.

Evidence: In January 2022, a review of the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBDR) lending identified approximately US$2 billion in AMR investments across portfolios strengthening and developing agriculture, health, and water and sanitation systems that would prevent the emergence of diseases, reduce the need for antimicrobials, and limit the emergence and spread of resistance. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP37-38.

Investment in Animal Health

Investment in animal health is greatly outpaced by the spread and emergence of AMR through livestock and veterinary settings. AMR initiatives in animal health must be urgently resourced, and low- and middle-income countries in particular, require better access to financing to achieve progress.

Evidence: Animal health investments represented only 7% of total funding in AMR research and development from 2017 to 2024. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP67, OP73.

Investor Community

Investors can mitigate societal and economic costs of AMR, including losses on long-term value of investment portfolios, through formal assessments and mitigation of AMR risks in their decision-making.

Evidence: Investing across AMR-relevant sectors could bring about returns of between $7-$13 for every $1 spent by 2050, according to the Global Leaders Group. (Source)

This message is reflected in the U.N. political declaration in OP38.