The Post-Antibiotic Era: Why Superbugs Could Kill 10M People Yearly by 2050

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global health threats. WHO warns 10M annual deaths by 2050 if current trends continue. Overuse of antibiotics in livestock (73% of global antibiotic use) and human medicine accelerates resistance. Pharmaceutical companies have largely abandoned antibiotic R&D (low ROI vs chronic disease drugs). New antibiotics receive $1B+ in development costs but generate only $100-200M in revenue. Solutions: phage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, AI-designed antibiotics, and stewardship programs. The UK's Fleming Fund and CARB-X are funding alternatives, but the economics remain challenging.