In the US, antibiotic innovation has been put on hold, and the last novel class that the FDA approved was in 1984, according to Wired. This is a growing concern for many, especially for patients who are undergoing treatments. 

There Could Be Hope

The Pasteur Act, which stands for Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance, could help guarantee government funds o allow a small number of new antibiotics to make it to the market. 

The Pasteur Act commits $b billion over several years to construct a form of subscription plan for developing new antibiotics. 

Currently, the proposal has gained bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and is backed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Should it push through, it would assemble panels of experts to evaluate whether any newly proposed antibiotic addresses an unmet need. 

From there, they will estimate the societal value for the drug. After this, the Treasure will disburse the money in tranches over several years. In return, the government would receive doses of the drug to federally insured patients for free. 

Also read: Antibiotics For Gut Bacteria Show Surprising Results In Treating Autism

The Upcoming Delays

Drug-company staff and independent analysts agree that this is necessary. However, Congress will reconvene this week but may be impacted by the recent elections. In addition, they will also need to make decisions on legislative proposals that were delayed earlier in the year and will need to choose what they can accomplish before the session ends around Christmas Eve. 

So, if the Pasteur Act doesn't get through by then, it will need to be reintroduced when the new Congress convenes in January 2023. However, the session will then be focused on the 2024 election, which could make it harder for issues to break through. 

The Need for New Antibiotics

Over the years, pharmaceutical companies have reduced antibiotic research and development activities. This was primarily due to the lower profit margins, longer development times, and the general lack of transparency in the business in the 1980s. 

Addressing the unmet need for new antibiotics is paramount because, without these medicines, patients won't have many other options. They may also be at a higher risk for death. 

At the moment, there are a lot of antibiotics that are used primarily for livestock and other non-humans, and they are not always appropriate for human health situations. For example, Baytril, which is often given to chickens, is not very effective against the bacteria that causes strep throat. 

Antibiotics have been over-utilized, and they are becoming less effective. Therefore, we need to change how we develop antibiotics, and there needs to be a new way of thinking with the Pasteur Act. This proposal could be the first step in changing the way we look at the antibiotic business, and it could be beneficial for patients in the future. 

Related article: Searching Icy Waters for Antibiotics: Can the Arctic Help Fight Antibiotic-Resistance?

Written by April Fowell

This article is posted on Tech Times.