The Analysis Codes
- Data cleaning (in R): GitHub Link
- Data processing and visualization (in Python): Link Pending
The Infographic
The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis is a major global health threat, with the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting it as one of the top ten public health challenges. This report provides an overview of the current AMR clinical trials pipeline, focusing on key trends, innovation, pathogen targeting, and developer contributions.
A significant portion of AMR products are still in the early stages of development. The majority of products are concentrated in Phase I (310), Phase II (186), and Phase III (146), with only 27 products in preregistration as shown in Figure 1. This trend reflects a strong commitment to developing AMR solutions, but it also emphasizes the challenges of advancing products through the later stages due to regulatory, technical, and efficacy hurdles.
Figure 1: Overview of the AMR Products in the Clinical Trials Pipeline.
Regarding product types, traditional antibiotics dominate the pipeline, with 383 products (57%), while 286 non-traditional therapies (43%) reflect an increasing interest in alternative approaches like bacteriophages, immune modulators, and microbiome-based interventions (Figure 2). The balance between these approaches is expected to evolve as more innovative therapies advance.
Figure 2: Product Type and Pathogen Targeting Relationships.
Priority pathogens remain the primary focus of the AMR pipeline, accounting for 95% of the products. However, some pathogens, such as Clostridioides difficile (17 products) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (14 products), receive relatively less attention, representing opportunities for targeted interventions (Figure 2). Non-traditional therapies for these under-targeted pathogens could play a key role in future development.
Innovation is a crucial element in addressing AMR, yet only 89 products are considered innovative, while 228 are non-innovative. The relatively small number of innovative products underlines the reliance on traditional solutions. However, the innovative therapies in development hold potential for breakthroughs, such as novel mechanisms of action and immune-boosting approaches.
Figure 3: Pathogen-Specific Product Types and R&D Phase Distribution.
Key developers driving AMR product development include Qpex Biopharma, with 39 products, and Wockhardt Ltd., GSK, and Entasis Therapeutics, each contributing 26 products. These companies are critical to ensuring the availability of new treatments for drug-resistant infections (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Top Pathogen-Developer Relationships in AMR Products.
An analysis of the transition rates between R&D phases reveals that 60% of products move from Phase I to Phase II, while 78.5% advance to Phase III. However, the transition rate from Phase III to preregistration drops sharply to 18.5%, highlighting the risks and challenges associated with late-stage development (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Innovation vs. Product Stage and R&D Pipeline Transition Success Rates.
In conclusion, the AMR clinical trials pipeline shows promise but requires ongoing investment in innovation and advanced-stage products. Supporting key developers and fostering breakthroughs in non-traditional therapies will be crucial in addressing the growing threat of AMR.
Contributors Information
| Authors | Slack ID | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | @Seebi | LinkedIn Profile |
| 2 | @YetQiaM | LinkedIn Profile |
| 3 | @Nada_EA | LinkedIn Profile |
| 4 | @Sarani | LinkedIn Profile |
| 5 | @Cipher | LinkedIn Profile |