The timely development of, and equitable global access to diagnostics, drugs and vaccines is a challenge not only for COVID-19, but also for other threats such as the silent pandemic of drug-resistant infections. There is an opportunity to take actions to better prepare and respond to current and future pandemics. Based on a recent report from GARDP, Manica Balasegaram will draw lessons from COVID-19 for how to advance the development of and ensure access to new antibiotics for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and highlight how governments can learn from past mistakes and strengthen domestic and global responses. Michelle Childs will explore the implications of COVID-19 for building a more equitable pharmaceutical R&D ecosystem.