Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia

The report identifies Asia as a critical epicenter for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), driven by limited healthcare infrastructure, unsustainable agricultural practices, and climate change. It warns that unmitigated AMR could cost the global economy 1.1% to 3.8% of annual GDP by 2050 and potentially surpass cancer as the leading cause of death. To combat this, the authors propose a strategy consisting of three 'sprints' (Educate, Prevent, Monitor) and one 'marathon' (Treat), emphasizing the need for innovative financing, private sector engagement, and cross-sectoral collaboration to bridge the 'valley of death' in drug development.

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is projected to become a leading cause of death globally, with associated deaths potentially reaching 8.22 million per year by 2050, which could make it more lethal than cancer.
• The economic burden of AMR is severe, with the World Bank estimating a global GDP loss of 1.1% to 3.8% by 2050, while low- and middle-income countries could see more than 5% of their annual GDP wiped out.
• Asia is disproportionately affected by AMR, accounting for over half of the 4.71 million associated deaths in 2021. By 2050, annual deaths are expected to reach 2.4 million in South Asia and 1.94 million across East Asia, South-East Asia, and Oceania.
• Climate change exacerbates AMR by increasing infection rates, damaging sanitation infrastructure through floods and storms, and prompting farmers to increase antimicrobial use to maintain yields amid changing weather.
• Agricultural and aquaculture practices in Asia are major drivers of resistance; the region produces 86% of global aquaculture and 43% of meat, often relying on the misuse of antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention.
• The development of new antibiotics is hindered by a 'valley of death' between early discovery and market launch, as the process takes 10-15 years and over $1 billion in investment, often with returns that fail to recoup costs.
• The report proposes a four-part strategy: three 'sprints' to Educate (improve stewardship), Prevent (strengthen WASH and diagnostics), and Monitor (enhance surveillance), and one 'marathon' to Treat (invest in R&D and access to medicines).
• Investments in innovative AMR solutions in the Asia-Pacific are projected to yield significant economic returns over the next decade, including $10-15 billion in annual healthcare savings and $35-40 billion in annual socio-economic savings.
• Counterfeit and substandard antimicrobials are a critical issue in South-East Asia, which produced 78% and consumed 44% of the world's counterfeit antimicrobials.
• Innovative financing models are needed to decouple pharmaceutical revenue from the volume of drugs sold, such as the UK NHS subscription model which pays a fixed annual fee based on value rather than quantity.

APA

World Economic Forum (2025). Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Targeted_Action_and_Financing_the_Fight_Against_Antimicrobial_Resistance_in_Asia_2025.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia. 2025. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Targeted_Action_and_Financing_the_Fight_Against_Antimicrobial_Resistance_in_Asia_2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia |date=May 2025 |url=https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Targeted_Action_and_Financing_the_Fight_Against_Antimicrobial_Resistance_in_Asia_2025.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2025targeted, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Targeted Action and Financing the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Targeted_Action_and_Financing_the_Fight_Against_Antimicrobial_Resistance_in_Asia_2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }