Shionogi renews its 10-year strategic plan originally announced in 2020 following the successful debut of COVID-19 therapeutic Xocova. Fulfilling its 2025 goals ahead of schedule, its new strategy focuses on HIV and COVID-19 and new product launches.

New funding from the UK’s antimicrobial resistance innovation fund is to be welcomed, but the UK pharmaceutical industry body, the ABPI, has cautioned that “multiple global solutions” bringing together governments, health care systems and the industry are needed if research efforts are to result in effective new antibiotics.

Japan has kick-started discussions on incentives for R&D and continued marketing of antibiotics as part of broader measures to counter resistance issues and industry reluctance to develop new drugs. The country plans to open applications for a pilot project in the summer after initial discussions on specific targets.