Industry-backed study warns Europe’s antibiotic supply is at breaking point

A new industry-supported study released for World AMR Awareness Week highlights widening gaps between falling antibiotic prices and sharply rising production costs. Published by Medicines for Europe, a trade group, the analysis reflects persistent concerns across Europe’s generic antibiotics market, which is valued at more than $10 billion.

The report shows average prices for leading off-patent antibiotics dropped 10.4% from 2020 to 2024 while costs for producers climbed steeply. Industrial expenses rose 31.6%, labor increased 25.7%, and energy costs surged. Amoxicillin prices fell nearly 19%, even as shortages mounted across 16 countries.

These pressures sit within a broader generics landscape marked by intense price erosion. Generics make up more than 80% of the region’s antibiotics sales, leaving manufacturers exposed when procurement systems push prices downward. The WHO has warned that one in six bacterial infections is now resistant to treatment, heightening the need for reliable supply.