Congress considers funding new antibiotics as drug resistance rises

The U.S. is considering the Pasteur Act to boost antibiotic research as drug-resistant infections make treatments less effective, but concerns about global access persist.

Jess Craig reports for Vox.

In short:

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat, making common infections harder to treat.
• The Pasteur Act proposes government funding to incentivize the development of new antibiotics.
• Critics argue the Act may limit access to these drugs in developing countries.

Key quote:

“From our years of work on access issues around the world, this generally results in products being sold to the highest bidder and being inaccessible in many contexts where they’re needed.”

— Ava Alkon, global health advocacy and policy adviser at Doctors Without Borders

Why this matters:

Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis that could undermine decades of medical progress. Efforts like the Pasteur Act aim to address this, but equitable access remains a challenge.

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• Bugs are full of our drugs—and they could be getting other critters hooked, too
• Meat's heavy reliance on antibiotics poses health risks