The WHO has warned of rising drug-resistant infections, and Singapore has updated its national action plan in response. Yet antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to grow worldwide, not because science has stalled, but because the commercial model for antibiotic development has collapsed. As pharmaceutical companies shift toward more profitable chronic disease drugs, the global pipeline for new antibiotics is shrinking.
How serious is the global slowdown in antibiotic development and what does it mean for Singapore’s future preparedness?
Hear from Prof Hsu Li Yang, who emphasises that Singapore cannot tackle drug-resistant infections alone. Sustained regional and global cooperation, reform and investment are essential to ensure antibiotics remain effective for future generations.