THE LANCET | 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Davos. The World Economic Forum’s will new manifesto to mark the occasion states that: “A company is more than an economic unit generating wealth. It fulfils human and societal aspirations as part of the broader social system”. Yet, this vision has failed in AMR. Pharmaceutical companies have abandoned the market because of a lack of financial return and the rapid development of resistance to new drugs, despite the centrality of antibiotics to preserving human health. Infections disproportionately affect the poor and are usually cured with one course of treatment, limiting their attractiveness for investment. Industry and governments must urgently work together on sustainable solutions to improve the commercial environment. The Lancet editorial board calls on governments and agencies to act to address the global threat of drug resistant bacteria.