Bacterial resistance to antimicrobials has been a global problem. On the other hand, however, the development of new antimicrobials has been markedly decreased since 1990s. We are facing the situation that there is no drug to be used for the treatment of severe infections caused by pan-drug resistant bacteria. But we are happy to see that some new compounds or new drugs at the different phases of clinical trials, which are active against multi-drug resistant bacteria, have been developed in recent years. Three recently FDA approved drugs, telavancin、ceftaroline and fidaxomicin, and tigecyline launched in China at the end of 2011, and several new antimicrobials at phases I to III clinical trials will be reviewed.