A new global report has raised concerns over the growing threat of drug-resistant infections in Nigeria and other African countries, warning that the development of new antibiotics is not keeping pace with the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The warning was contained in the 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark, released by the Access to Medicine Foundation during a virtual briefing on Tuesday. The report noted that antimicrobial resistance is increasing worldwide, placing millions of lives at risk, particularly in low- and middle-income nations.

According to the findings, more than one million people die each year directly from drug-resistant infections, while antimicrobial resistance contributes to over four million deaths globally. The report cautioned that without urgent intervention, fatalities linked to AMR could rise sharply by 2050.

Nigeria and several other developing countries were identified as particularly vulnerable due to a high burden of infectious diseases, limited access to essential medicines and widespread misuse of antibiotics.

The study evaluated the activities of 25 pharmaceutical companies, including seven major research-based firms, 10 generic drug manufacturers and eight small- and medium-sized enterprises. It found that innovation in antibiotic development is slowing.

The report also revealed a decline in industry performance since the 2021 Benchmark, noting that large research-based pharmaceutical companies have reduced investment in antimicrobial research, leading to a 35 per cent drop in their development pipelines.

However, some promising antibiotics are still being developed by companies such as GSK, Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Shionogi.

One example cited is gepotidacin, a new antibiotic being developed by GSK for the treatment of urinary tract infections. The report noted that about 150 million people worldwide suffer from urinary tract infections each year, with more than half of all women expected to experience the condition at least once in their lifetime.

Despite these advances, the report stressed that access to existing antibiotics remains a major challenge across many African countries. It found that child-friendly antibiotic formulations are often either not registered or not widely available in several sub-Saharan African nations.

Health experts warned that the lack of appropriate medicines for children increases the risk of improper dosing, making them more vulnerable to infections.

Five companies — Aurobindo Pharma, GSK, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries — were identified as making relatively stronger efforts to register child-friendly antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries.

Nevertheless, significant gaps in access persist across parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

The report also highlighted that antimicrobial resistance is being worsened by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, including self-medication and the widespread sale of antibiotics without prescriptions.

Experts emphasised that addressing the growing crisis will require stronger collaboration between governments, pharmaceutical companies and international health organisations.

Chief Executive Officer of the Access to Medicine Foundation, Jayasree Iyer, said the findings demonstrate that progress is achievable but requires faster action.

“We can tilt the battle against superbugs in humanity’s favour. Our findings show practical approaches that can accelerate progress on multiple fronts,” she said.

Director of Research at the foundation, Claudia Martínez, also called for more coordinated efforts across the pharmaceutical industry.

“From research and development to manufacturing, access, stewardship and measuring how medicines reach patients, the Benchmark shows the potential for companies to adopt more comprehensive strategies. However, stronger and more coordinated industry action is needed,” she said.

Health experts further stressed that governments must implement policies and incentives to encourage the development of new antibiotics while improving access to existing treatments.

For countries like Nigeria, they noted that stronger regulation of antibiotic use and improved availability of appropriate medicines will be essential to prevent antimicrobial resistance from escalating into a more severe public health crisis.