CBSA urges Congress to pass important legislation, the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Up-Surging Resistance Act (PASTEUR Act) during the “lame-duck” session. There is limited time to pass the legislation before the 117th Congress comes to a close at the end of the year. The passage of the PASTEUR Act would create new incentives through a subscription reimbursement model, where the federal government would enter a subscription contract with a drug developer if the developer receives a ‘critical need antimicrobial’ designation.
CBSA applauds Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet for serving as the sponsor of this key legislation in the Senate and thanks CO U.S. Representative Diana DeGette for co-sponsoring in the House. CBSA continues to advocate the importance of this legislation to the entire delegation and are encouraging additional co-sponsors to sign-on. CBSA is encouraged that the Act could be an effective strategy to promote the development of new antimicrobial medications to fight drug-resistant infections.
The PASTEUR Act: More Details
The PASTEUR Act would establish an outcomes and value-based alternative payment model where the federal government pays companies set amounts for critical-need antimicrobials based on the treatment’s value to public health. This model would be designed to provide a predictable return for companies, enabling them to continue innovating, while incentivizing investments to support a more robust R&D pipeline. And as Senate sponsor, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) states to BIO, “Right now, our system rewards volume, not value. We need a pandemic-style strategic partnership between biotech and the federal government, which is how we broke every record for vaccine development.”
Current Situation
The legislation has had a lot of momentum and now has nearly 70 bipartisan co-sponsors across the House and Senate bills. In fact, its principles are supported by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra.
The timing is now, which is why CBSA’s national partner BIO joined more than 150 health-focused organizations in signing a letter to congressional leaders urging passage of the PASTEUR Act, and stating, “Delays in passing the PASTEUR Act are delays in developing novel antimicrobials to treat highly resistant, life-threatening infections, delays that many patients … cannot afford.”
Without action, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is projected to kill 10 million per year by 2050. The PASTEUR Act would drive and sustain investment into a diverse pipeline of AMR products to ensure clinicians and patients have the needed drugs to address current and future resistant threats. According to BIO news, “the market is broken, with fewer than 70 antimicrobial programs in the pipeline.”
CBSA and Partner Engagement
CBSA will continue to work with our national partners and will express our support for passage of the PASTEUR Act.
CBSA’s outreach has included:
· Partnering with national partners on outreach.
· Urging the Colorado Congressional Delegation to engage and join on as a co-sponsor on this important legislation.
· Offering support and feedback to Senator Bennet’s office with a comment letter that provided recommendations on areas of improvement to enhance the critical legislation.
Learn More: Listen to the I am BIO podcast, Antimicrobial Resistance: The Silent Pandemic
Take Action: Tell Congress to pass the PASTEUR Act
Original source can be found here.
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