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The world is running out of drugs that can kill “superbug” bacteria — and the number of new ones being developed is “alarmingly low,” with only four major pharmaceutical companies still in the antibiotic business, according to a new report released Thursday.

Superbugs are bacteria that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics and our war against them is becoming increasingly asymmetrical; as they strengthen their ranks, we are in a process of disarmament.

Since 1998, only four antibiotics have been pushed out by the world’s 11 biggest drug companies, according to the report by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) — and today, only four Big Pharma companies are still working on antibiotics at all.