Organizations Urge Lawmakers to Advance PASTEUR Act Before Congress Ends

WASHINGTON—Organizations representing health care providers, public health professionals, scientists, patients, and the biotech and diagnostics industries today issued the following statement, calling on lawmakers to advance the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act before the 117th Congress ends on Jan. 3, 2023:

“With its power to jump-start the development of desperately needed antimicrobials, the PASTEUR Act is a vital next step in the global fight to address the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance.

“Yet although this bipartisan, bicameral, patients-first bill has ignited conversations about the importance of addressing antimicrobial resistance, it has not been signed into law.

“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest public health threats of our time. Without swift action, the global death toll could reach a staggering 10 million by 2050.

“Individuals with underlying health conditions may be more susceptible to drug-resistant infections, but because resistant infections have been increasing, every American—and every global citizen—is in jeopardy of contracting a drug-resistant infection for which current therapeutics are insufficient.

“We believe that the PASTEUR Act would transform the broken antimicrobial pipeline by delivering the novel, medically significant therapeutics that patients desperately need to stave off lethal infections—and avert a devastating pandemic.

“PASTEUR would also safeguard U.S. investment in antibiotic development by funding antimicrobial stewardship programs that guide optimal antibiotic use and preserve antibiotics’ efficacy.

“The time for action is now. Delays in passing the PASTEUR Act are delays in developing novel antimicrobials to treat highly resistant, life-threatening infections. And these are delays that many patients—including those who are particularly susceptible to infections, such as those who have cystic fibrosis or cancer, or have received organ transplants—cannot afford.

“Our diverse group of stakeholders is united behind PASTEUR. We urge Congress to enact the PASTEUR Act and invigorate a new era of antimicrobial research and development to avoid another devastating pandemic.”

Signed,

Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease
The Pew Charitable Trusts