Just before turning the page to 2026, it’s worth pausing to reflect on both the progress made and the challenges that remain in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The numbers, unfortunately, haven’t changed. According to The Lancet, up to 39 million lives could be lost to antibiotic-resistant infections by 2050 if we fail to act. That reality continues to loom large. And yet, 2025 gave us reasons to believe. Across research, development, policy, and advocacy, the AMR ecosystem laid critical groundwork for a future where these outcomes can be prevented.

Signs of progress across the global AMR landscape

2025 was not a year of breakthroughs alone, but a year of proof. Proof that sustained effort, collaboration, and compromise can move the needle.

Some highlights:

• FDA approval of NUZOLVENCE™ (zoliflodacin) — the first-in-class oral antibiotic for gonorrhoea, marking a major milestone for innovation in antibacterial R&D and global public health;
• EU agreement on draft pull incentives as part of the reform of pharmaceutical legislation. While not yet implemented—and admittedly modest in scale—this agreement represents an achievable political compromise and a step toward addressing market failures in antibiotic development;
• WHO’s first-ever report on the antifungal pipeline, shining a long-overdue spotlight on one of the most neglected areas of AMR;
• IPO of BioVersys (February 7, 2025), signalling investor confidence in AMR-focused biotech;
• Launch of GAMRIC in London, strengthening global coordination and financing efforts in the AMR space.

Taken together, these developments don’t solve the AMR crisis, but they show momentum is real, and progress is possible if we work to achieve it.

What about INCATE?

For INCATE, 2025 was a year of growth, consolidation, and meaningful impact as we celebrated our 4th anniversary.

We were proud to extend and deepen partnerships with industry leaders such as MSD, Roche, and Shionogi: a significant milestone that allowed us to sharpen our focus on what matters most: supporting innovators on the frontlines of AMR.

Key highlights from the year include:

• Surpassing 420 direct contacts with startups and academic initiatives
• Growing our venture portfolio to 53 ventures, with more in the pipeline
• Publishing the first INCATE Report (2021–2024)
• Expanding and diversifying our venture portfolio across modalities and geographies
• Reaching an important milestone with our first Antifungal Stage II award

A stronger presence in the community

2025 also marked a step change in our engagement with the broader AMR community:

• AMR Conference 2025
  • Moderated our first session
  • Welcomed an increased number of poster abstracts from around the world
  • Saw a clear rise in the quality of Startup Pitch presentations
  • Organized the first INCATE Network Event, bringing innovators and partners together
• I4ID in Lyon
  • Chaired a session
  • Contributed to a panel discussion
• Organized and contributed to multiple educational webinars and workshops, continuing our commitment to knowledge sharing and capacity building.

And yes: we also managed to close new partnerships in 2025. More on that very soon… stay tuned for 2026!

Looking ahead to 2026

As we look forward, our motivation is clear. The urgency hasn’t faded, but neither has our determination.

Speaking of 2026: are we meeting in Basel?
The Call for Poster Abstracts and the Startup Pitch Event for AMR Conference 2026 are open until January 7, 2026.

Be bold. Be creative. And tell us how we can help you make a difference in the fight against AMR.

Here’s to carrying the momentum of 2025 into a year where progress turns into impact.