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GSK has announced that it will work with around 50 UK scientists on the use of AI to speed up research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
On 18 November 2025, the pharmaceutical company said it would provide £45m in funding for six research programmes, in partnership with the Fleming Initiative.
The programmes, due to begin by early 2026, are aimed to slow the progress of AMR through the discovery of new drugs; improve understanding of how the immune system responds to drug-resistant bacteria; and create AI models that predict how drug-resistant pathogens emerge and spread.
They will also include a clinical trial to look into improving how and when antibiotics are prescribed, with an analysis of international data to inform policy.
Another project will focus on developing a AI model to design antibiotics for multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, which can cause urinary tract and bloodstream infections, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which can cause pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis.
“These bacteria have a complex cell envelope defence system which prevents antibiotics from accumulating inside the cell, and efflux pumps that can eject those that do,” GSK said.
Under the project, GSK added that scientists and AI experts will use advanced automation and generate novel datasets on a range of molecules to create an AI model that will improve the ability to design antibiotics for multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative infections.
“These data and AI models will be made available to scientists around the world in the hope of accelerating the development of a new generation of antimicrobial drugs,” it said.
Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, commented: “Research and collaboration to tackle AMR are essential, and AI has real potential to support the development and safe use of medicines.
“To ensure this benefits patients, AI-driven research must be transparent, with strong governance and involvement from healthcare professionals to ensure it meets clinical and patients needs. Alongside innovation, continued antimicrobial stewardship is crucial, and pharmacy teams play a key role in ensuring antibiotics are used responsibly.”
The GSK announcement comes as data on AMR published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, also on 18 November 2025, show that the number of drug-resistant infections in Europe are rising.
Bloodstream infections caused by K. pneumoniae are estimated to have increased by 60% between 2019 and 2024, despite a target of a 5% reduction by 2030, according to the data.
The data also show infections caused by third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli have risen by more than 5%, despite a target of a 10% reduction.
A report published by the UK Health Security Agency on 13 November 2025 included data showing that antibiotic-resistant infections had risen by 13% between 2019 and 2024 in the UK, with 20,484 cases reported in 2024, which equates to nearly 400 cases per week.
