Can you help shape our future priorities? Take a five minute survey now. Survey closes on 8 July.

Brief

Engaging China in Global Efforts to Develop New Antimicrobials

Published on 1 May 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly important global health threat, but the pipeline of new antimicrobials under development is inadequate. Developing new antimicrobials is risky, with little financial reward, prompting calls for governments to adopt novel industrial and innovation policies to incentivise research and development (R&D).

China has a history of ‘mission-driven’ approaches to industrial and innovation policy, and in biotech and pharma this is leading to rapid growth and increasing technical sophistication. However, despite a commitment to developing new antimicrobials in the country’s AMR National Action Plan (NAP), they are not a priority in its industrial and innovation policy, and companies are not highly active in this area.

The UK can take practical measures to engage with China with the aim of bringing China’s substantial research and industrial capacity into efforts to develop new drugs in the face of the impending antimicrobial crisis.

Cite this publication

Husain, L. (2022) Engaging China in Global Efforts to Develop New Antimicrobials

Authors

Lewis Husain

Health and Nutrition Cluster Lead

Publication details

published by
Institute of Development Studies
language
English

Share

About this publication

Region
China

Related content

Publication

Rapid evidence synthesis: Mpox community protection

SSHAP Evidence Synthesis

6 June 2025

Brief

Key considerations: Home-based care for mpox in Central and East Africa

SSHAP Briefing

Diane Duclos & 3 others

3 June 2025

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.