As the threat of resistance to antibiotics escalates worldwide, GSK and the Fleming Initiative have unveiled six research programmes aimed at halting the rise of drug-resistant infections.
Combining advanced AI, cutting-edge laboratory science, and international collaboration, these ‘Grand Challenges’ seek to develop new treatments, improve prescribing practices, and strengthen global strategies against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The move comes at a critical moment, as recent WHO data warns that one in six bacterial infections is now resistant to available antibiotics, with deaths projected to soar over the next three decades if urgent action is not taken.
A growing global crisis
The urgency of this initiative is underlined by the latest WHO GLASS report, which highlights a worsening global situation.
If trends continue, deaths linked to AMR could surge by 74.5%, from 4.71 million in 2021 to an estimated 8.22 million by 2050.
Experts warn that the world faces a critical need for innovation in drug discovery, clinical practice, and public health policy to prevent this looming public health crisis.
The Fleming Initiative: A global collaboration
The Fleming Initiative, established by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, brings together scientists, policymakers, clinicians, and commercial partners to tackle AMR on a global scale.
GSK became the initiative’s first founding partner in 2024, pledging £45m in funding to support groundbreaking research and solutions.
The Grand Challenges represent the first major output of this collaboration, providing fully funded three-year programmes focused on six priority areas:
- Discovering new antibiotics for Gram-negative bacteria
- Accelerating treatments for fungal infections
- Understanding immune responses to drug-resistant pathogens
- Predicting the emergence and spread of resistance using AI
- Optimising antibiotic prescribing through clinical trials
- Informing policy and public engagement to embed preventative interventions
Tackling Gram-negative bacteria
One of the most pressing scientific hurdles in the fight against resistance to antibiotics is the challenge of Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
These pathogens possess sophisticated cell envelope defences and efflux pumps that prevent antibiotics from accumulating, making infections particularly difficult to treat.
To confront this threat, Imperial’s Drug Discovery Hub will partner with GSK and Agilent Technologies. Using AI and advanced automation, scientists will generate novel data sets and molecular models to design antibiotics capable of bypassing bacterial defences.
Crucially, all resulting AI models and data will be shared globally to accelerate the development of next-generation antimicrobial therapies.
Addressing fungal infections
Fungal pathogens, particularly Aspergillus, are another growing concern, causing approximately two million infections annually with mortality rates exceeding 46% among high-risk ICU patients.
Existing treatments are limited to four drug classes, often targeting the same cellular sites, leaving patients vulnerable to antifungal resistance.
The new Grand Challenge will harness AI to pinpoint unique fungal vulnerabilities, paving the way for innovative drugs that could save thousands of lives each year.
Understanding the human immune response
Vaccines against drug-resistant bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus have historically failed due to gaps in understanding the human immune response. This pathogen alone contributes to over one million deaths annually.
The Fleming Initiative will replicate surgical site infections under controlled conditions to study how the immune system reacts to S. aureus.
Insights from this research are expected to guide the development of more effective vaccines and immunotherapies, providing a new line of defence against resistance to antibiotics.
Strengthening global research and policy
Beyond drug discovery, the Grand Challenges will leverage disease surveillance and environmental data to create predictive AI models of pathogen spread.
In parallel, innovative clinical trials will explore optimal antibiotic prescribing practices, while research findings will inform global policy and public engagement strategies.
The programme will fund around 50 multi-disciplinary roles at Imperial College London, addressing a critical workforce gap in AMR research highlighted by the 2024 AMR Industry Alliance report, Leaving the Lab.
By training and deploying experts across science, clinical practice, and policy, the initiative aims to catalyse long-term progress against AMR.
A timely call to action
The launch of the Grand Challenges coincides with World AMR Awareness Week and the 80th anniversary of the Nobel Prize awarded for penicillin, the world’s first broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Coming shortly after the WHO GLASS report, the announcement serves as a crucial wake-up call to the scientific community, highlighting the urgent need for collaborative, global action to curb the rise of resistance to antibiotics.
With fully funded programmes, advanced AI tools, and a global network of experts, the GSK-Fleming partnership is positioning itself at the forefront of the fight against one of the most significant public health threats of the 21st century.
