{"id":13731,"date":"2021-06-17T10:21:03","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T09:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ppr-antibioresistance.inserm.fr\/?p=13731"},"modified":"2021-10-11T14:33:32","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T13:33:32","slug":"u-s-senators-todd-young-and-michael-bennet-reintroduced-the-pioneering-antimicrobial-subscriptions-to-end-upsurging-resistance-pasteur-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ppr-antibioresistance.inserm.fr\/en\/informations-et-communications\/actualites\/u-s-senators-todd-young-and-michael-bennet-reintroduced-the-pioneering-antimicrobial-subscriptions-to-end-upsurging-resistance-pasteur-act\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Senators Todd Young and Michael Bennet reintroduced the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Published on June 16, 2021 on Young.senate.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Would Support Development of Innovative Antibiotics to Treat Resistant Infections and Improve Appropriate Antibiotic Use<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON<\/strong> \u2013 U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) reintroduced the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act<\/em> to encourage innovative drug development targeting the most threatening infections, improve the appropriate use of antibiotics, and ensure domestic availability when needed. Senators Young and Bennet were joined by Representatives Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) and Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmericans understand \u2013 now more than ever \u2013 that we must take every reasonable and responsible measure to prevent future public health crises. Antimicrobial resistance has become a growing crisis in recent years. Market failures have resulted in a lack of needed research and development in this field which is a threat to public health. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to reintroduce our Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act <\/em>to incentivize development of new antibiotics. At the same time, the PASTEUR Act <\/em>will focus on educating health care providers on how to avoid overuse or misuse of these life-saving medications in order to slow the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens,\u201d said Senator Young.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter witnessing the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been more clear that we need to invest in research to prepare for the next public health crisis,\u201d said Senator Bennet.<\/strong> \u201cInfectious disease experts are already sounding alarms, and they need resources to prepare for the threat that antimicrobial resistance infections pose. With our bipartisan PASTEUR Act<\/em>, we have the chance to not only learn from the mistakes we have made up to this point, but to invest in tools to better prepare for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s (CDC) Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States report, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year, and at least 35,000 people die as a result. In March 2015, the U.S. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria directed federal agencies to accelerate a coordinated, full government response to antibiotic resistance and take action to expand the ability of our health care system to prevent, identify, and respond to the infection pandemic threat posed by antimicrobial resistance. Part of this plan was to increase and incent development of innovative antimicrobial drugs to treat resistant infections. Because of severe market failures in the health care system, many of the innovative antibiotic companies doing this work have filed for bankruptcy and stopped producing their critical drugs completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PASTEUR Act<\/em> would address this market failure and increase public health preparedness by keeping novel antibiotics on the market and improving appropriate use across the health care system. While current contracts between the government and drug makers base payment on volume, the PASTEUR Act<\/em> would establish a subscription-style model which would offer antibiotic developers an upfront payment in exchange for access to their antibiotics, encouraging innovation and ensuring our health care system is prepared to treat resistant infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statements of Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe PASTEUR Act<\/em> will strengthen our nation\u2019s preparedness and ability to confront multidrug resistant infections that claim at least 35,000 lives in the US annually. Physicians and our patients need novel antibiotics and resources to support antibiotic stewardship, and the PASTEUR Act<\/em> will deliver,\u201d said Amy Beth Kressel, MD, MS, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe global pandemic is a stark reminder that the nation must prepare for threats to public health\u2014and we must act now on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Too many drug companies have already left the field, and the pipeline of new drugs is running dry. This bipartisan bill puts forth an innovative strategy to spur development, and make sure these lifesaving drugs will be available when we need them,\u201d said David Hyun, Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts\u2019 Antibiotic Resistance Project.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens to unravel the gains of modern medicine, as lifesaving procedures including cancer chemotherapy, transplantation and other surgeries all rely upon the availability of safe and effective antibiotics.  AMR also weakens our preparedness and response to public health emergencies, as we have seen during the current pandemic with outbreaks of antibiotic resistant secondary infections in COVID-19 treatment units. The PASTEUR Act<\/em> takes critical steps to address the threat AMR poses,\u201d said Barbara Alexander, MD; President, Infectious Diseases Society of America; Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAntibiotics are the quiet infrastructure undergirding modern medicine. For cancer patients, the second-leading cause of death is infection. The PASTEUR Act<\/em> ensures that patients who win the fight against cancer don\u2019t succumb to infections. It uses subscriptions to pay for antibiotics over a decade, based on value, not volume. It is the best solution for the AMR innovation gap, the final missing piece in the US National Action Plan on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, and demonstrates US leadership to keep us safe from the next pandemic,\u201d said Kevin Outterson, Executive Director, CARB-X, Professor of Law & N. Neal Pike Scholar in Health and Disability Law – Boston University.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Antimicrobial Innovation Alliance has been working with Congress since 2012 on developing incentives in response to global AMR crisis, the silent pandemic. The PASTEUR Act<\/em> represents the most thoughtful, balanced and meaningful mechanism to \u2018pull\u2019 through life-saving medicines for patients in need and we are eager to work for its implementation,\u201d said Barrett Thornhill, Executive Director of the Antimicrobial Innovation Alliance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCOVID-19 is showing that innovation and collaboration are necessary to strengthen global health security and prevent future crises, but COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic that the world faces. Now more than ever, the PASTEUR Act<\/em> represents a global gamechanger in preparing for the silent pandemic of AMR. AMR is a shared priority for global leaders, with the G7 this month committing to ensure much-needed sustainable innovation in antimicrobial R&D. The global community welcomes the PASTEUR Act<\/em>, and I applaud the US’ leadership in encouraging investment in developing sustainable, accessible and affordable treatments for patients. The bold action of the PASTEUR Act<\/em> today would enable humanity to contain the global challenges of tomorrow, protecting global citizens against drug resistance and preserving modern medicine for all,\u201d said Professor Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PASTEUR Act<\/em> would:<\/p>\n\n\n\n