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, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The PASTEUR Act would:

Establish a subscription model to encourage innovative antimicrobial drug development aimed at treating drug-resistant infections.
Include in subscription contracts terms and conditions that include product availability to individuals on a government health insurance plan, supporting appropriate use and completion of post-marketing studies.
Build on existing frameworks to improve use of the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network, the Emerging Infections Program and other programs to collect and report on antibiotic use and resistance data.
Include transition measures such as smaller subscription contracts to support novel antimicrobial drug developers that need a financial lifeline.
Form a Committee on Critical Need Antimicrobials, consisting of representatives from federal agencies, doctors, patients and outside experts, to develop and implement necessary guidance regarding infections of concern and the favored characteristics of potential treatments.

Related: The COVID public health emergency is ending, but is America safe?

The legislation has received widespread support from organizations that focus on issues involving antibiotics. In a letter to Congress in March, 237 organizations signed their support ot the PASTEUR Act.

Instant Insights /

The superbug crisis: Congress aims to encourage pharma to develop new antibiotics

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