WHO, EU Expand €3.5m Partnership to Boost Global Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance

WHO estimates that drug-resistant infections are already responsible for millions of deaths annually, with the burden falling disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) have strengthened their collaboration to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a new €3.5 million funding agreement under the EU4Health programme. The renewed partnership aims to accelerate research, development, and equitable access to life-saving antimicrobial treatments worldwide.

AMR remains one of the most severe and fast-growing threats to global health, undermining decades of progress against bacterial and fungal infections. WHO estimates that drug-resistant infections are already responsible for millions of deaths annually, with the burden falling disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries.

Dr Yvan Hutin, Director of Antimicrobial Resistance at WHO, welcomed the expanded agreement. “Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent threats to global health and security. WHO is pleased to renew our partnership with the European Commission to accelerate efforts to fight AMR by ensuring equitable access to essential antimicrobials and diagnostics for all,” he said.

Supporting Innovation in Treatments and Technologies

The new funding will allow WHO to intensify work on several critical AMR initiatives, including:

• Research and development for new antibiotics, urgently needed as current drugs lose effectiveness.

• Expansion of antifungal treatments to address rising global fungal infections.

• Support for non-traditional therapies such as bacteriophages—viruses engineered to target and destroy bacteria.

• Scaling up the SECURE initiative, co-led with the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), which aims to ensure sustainable, affordable access to both new and existing antibiotics worldwide.

Building on a Partnership Established in 2022

WHO and HERA first partnered in 2022 to develop new medical countermeasures against drug-resistant pathogens. Since then, the collaboration has contributed significantly to global AMR strategies, including:

• Publication of the updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) identifying the world’s most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria.

• Advancing implementation of the first-ever Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL) through global and regional expert consultations.

• Conducting multiple R&D pipeline assessments across antibacterial, antifungal, and diagnostic technologies.

• Accelerating regulatory pathways for priority pediatric antibiotic formulations, addressing an urgent unmet medical need.

Strengthening Global Access and Preparedness

Beyond innovation, WHO has also expanded work on the SECURE initiative through:

• Global technical consultations.

• New operational guidance to help countries introduce priority antibiotics safely and efficiently.

• Policy recommendations to address worldwide shortages of essential antibiotics.

These efforts have not only strengthened global awareness of AMR but also helped countries prioritise investment, shape regulatory frameworks, and expand access—especially in vulnerable regions where drug-resistant infections are rapidly rising.

Looking Ahead

The expanded partnership marks a renewed commitment by Europe and WHO to tackle AMR through coordinated research, public health preparedness, and equitable access strategies. The investment will support the development of next-generation antimicrobials while ensuring that lifesaving treatments reach the communities that need them most.