In the international debate on global health, antimicrobial resistance is now widely recognised as one of the leading health threats of the 21st century. In recent years, however, the way it is addressed has also evolved. The One Health approach, integrating human, animal and environmental health, has shifted AMR from a purely clinical issue to a systemic challenge that directly involves the pharmaceutical industry.
Documents published between January and March 2026 provide an updated snapshot of this evolution. In particular, three sources are key to understanding this new phase: the European EFSA-ECDC report on antimicrobial resistance, the draft WHO Global Action Plan 2026–2036, and the 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark by the Access to Medicine Foundation.
The message that emerges is clear: responding to antimicrobial resistance requires not only new therapies, but a rethinking of the pharmaceutical value chain as a whole.
European AMR data
The European Union Summary Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food, published by EFSA and ECDC in February 2026, represents one of the cornerstones of European One Health surveillance.
The report analyses bacterial resistance data from humans, animals and the food chain, confirming trends already observed in recent years: persistently high levels of resistance to widely used molecules such as ampicillin, tetracyclines and ciprofloxacin across several zoonotic bacteria.
According to EFSA, the prudent use of antimicrobials remains a crucial element in preserving their long-term effectiveness. However, the most relevant aspect for the industry lies in the cross-sectoral dimension of the phenomenon. As highlighted in the report, the use of antibiotics in the veterinary field can directly impact the effectiveness of the same classes of drugs in human medicine.
This means that AMR can no longer be managed in isolation across different sectors, but requires an integrated strategy spanning the entire lifecycle of antimicrobial development and use.
European Union Summary Report on Antimicrobial Resistance
The antibiotic pipeline and the innovation challenge
If surveillance highlights the scale of the problem, the most critical front remains therapeutic innovation.
The 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark by the Access to Medicine Foundation analyses the strategies of 25 pharmaceutical companies—ranging from big pharma to generics manufacturers and SMEs—assessing their commitment to tackling AMR.
The picture that emerges is mixed. On one hand, some companies are investing in new antimicrobial platforms and alternatives to traditional antibiotics, such as monoclonal antibodies or targeted therapies against specific pathogens. On the other, the global pipeline remains limited, characterised by high scientific risk and uncertain economic returns.
The benchmark also highlights that innovation can no longer be confined to the discovery of new molecules. Increasingly relevant are aspects such as:
- global access to medicines
- responsible stewardship programmes
- distribution strategies in low- and middle-income countries
According to the Access to Medicine Foundation, addressing AMR requires an industrial model that integrates scientific innovation with global responsibility.
The emerging front of responsible manufacturing
Another increasingly relevant issue concerns the environmental impact of pharmaceutical production.
In recent years, a growing body of evidence has shown that the presence of antibiotics in industrial wastewater can contribute to the development of bacterial resistance in the environment. The 2026 benchmark therefore places particular emphasis on responsible manufacturing policies.
Among the practices assessed are:
- monitoring of industrial discharges
- limits on antibiotic concentrations in wastewater
- environmental audits across the supply chain
This environmental dimension represents one of the most tangible applications of the One Health approach within the industry. It is not limited to drug safety, but extends to how medicines are manufactured.
One Health as an industrial driver
The convergence of epidemiological surveillance, global strategies and industry benchmarks indicates that AMR is becoming a true driver of transformation for the pharmaceutical sector.
For companies, the implications are multiple:
- strengthening antimicrobial R&D
- adoption of new standards for sustainable manufacturing
- integration of stewardship policies into market access models
In this context, the One Health approach is no longer just a conceptual framework, but a new architecture of industrial responsibility—one that is set to increasingly shape the strategic direction of pharmaceutical companies.
Sources
EFSA & ECDC. European Union Summary Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food. 2026.
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9887
Access to Medicine Foundation. 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark.
https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/resource/2026-antimicrobial-resistance-benchmark
