PASTEUR Act of 2026
Sen. Bennet Introduces Bipartisan PASTEUR Act to Fund New Antibiotics Through Subscription Model
The PASTEUR Act of 2026 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently introduced in the Senate and sent to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for review. The bill is actively moving forward as it waits for the committee to consider it.
Legislative Progress
The bill has strong bipartisan support and addresses a major health crisis, but the $6 billion cost and the new payment model may face challenges in a tight budget environment.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Incarcerated populations face elevated risks of drug-resistant infections due to overcrowding and limited healthcare access. The bill names the Bureau of Prisons as a partner for collecting antibiotic use and resistance data, which could improve how resistant infections are tracked and treated in federal prisons.
“the Secretary may work with, as appropriate, Federal departments and agencies (including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Prisons, the Indian Health Service, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)”
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesU.S. Senators Young, Bennet introduce PASTEUR Act to fight antimicrobial resistance
Senators Todd Young and Michael Bennet reintroduced the PASTEUR Act to encourage innovative drug development targeting the most threatening infections. The bill would create a subscription model paying companies a set fee for new antibiotics regardless of sales volume to prevent superbugs.
New bipartisan legislation can encourage needed antibiotic development
Phyllis Arthur of BIO urges support for the PASTEUR Act, arguing for a new model that gives drug developers the financial assurance they need to provide new treatments. The bill aims to fix market failures and expand the pipeline for next-generation antibiotics through a subscription model.
Biotech sees strong signs of stabilization at the FDA, BIO President says
BIO President John F. Crowley discussed the PASTEUR Act's reintroduction in the Senate, noting it as an important step toward restoring a sustainable antimicrobial ecosystem. He emphasized that the legislation helps ensure the U.S. remains a leader in medical innovation and drug development.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
PASTEUR Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(4)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.