Bipartisan PASTEUR Act to fight antimicrobial resistance reintroduced

Bipartisan US Senators Michael Bennet and Todd Young and Representative Scott Peters have reintroduced the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act, which would commit $6 billion to reinvigorate innovation in much needed R&D of new antimicrobials.

The Act aims to encourage innovative drug development targeting the most threatening infections, improve the appropriate use of antibiotics, and ensure domestic availability of antibiotics when needed. Senators Bennet and Young first  introduced the PASTEUR Act in September 2020.

“Right now, we don’t have the tools to address the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance – and infectious disease experts are warning us that it will only get worse,” said Senator Bennet, adding: “The bipartisan PASTEUR Act is the strongest bill ever written to strengthen antibiotic development and use. It will fix our market failures, expand the pipeline for next generation antibiotics, and save lives. We can’t sit on our hands as this public health crisis arrives – we have to act now.”