The Cancer Support Community supports H.R. 2940/S. 1355, the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Up Surging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act, to establish a program to develop antimicrobial innovations targeting the most challenging pathogens and most life-threatening infections. The crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes reduced treatment options and efficacy, increases the spread of infection, therefore increasing morbidity and mortality rates. This legislation would address this crisis by supporting the development of new antimicrobials, decreasing resistance that results from the over prescription of current drugs. The PASTEUR Act would create a committee of federal agents, doctors, and representatives from top health and medical organizations to develop evidence-based action plans and regulations to combat disease and antimicrobial resistance. This bill would encourage drug development to treat such drug-resistant infections, without incentivizing increased volume and quality of sales, whose overconsumption causes this resistance, combatting this major public health issue.
In the United States, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur each year, leading to over 35,000 deaths. This issue costs more than $4.6 billion annually and must be addressed. This legislation aims to increase public health preparedness by developing new drugs and improving appropriate use across the healthcare system, saving lives.
