PASTEUR Act of 2026

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create a program for developing innovative antimicrobial drugs targeting the most challenging pathogens and threatening infections, aiming to ensure availability, stimulate research, promote appropriate use, and maintain medical care standards.

Sec. 3, Developing antimicrobial innovations: The bill adds a new part to the Public Health Service Act allowing the Secretary to enter into contracts with sponsors of eligible antimicrobials that treat urgent or serious threats from CDC reports or determined by the Secretary, and address unmet medical needs. Sponsors must apply within 2 years of approval, and the Secretary reviews applications within 90 days, using a scoring methodology based on patient care contributions, innovation, and health system benefits, with a minimum threshold. Contracts require sponsors to ensure commercial availability, report resistance data, implement education strategies, submit appropriate use plans, maintain supply, and follow manufacturing standards. Annual payments range from $75 million to $300 million, adjusted for inflation and net revenue, and can be terminated for noncompliance. Contract terms last up to 10 years or until a generic or biosimilar is marketed.

Sec. 399PP-1, Critical Need Antimicrobial Advisory Group: The Secretary must establish a 15-member advisory group within 60 days, including infectious disease physicians, experts in antimicrobial resistance or health economics, patient advocates, and a non-voting chair, all without compensation from antimicrobial developers, and subject to conflict-of-interest rules.

Sec. 399PP-2, Encouraging appropriate use and combating resistance: The Secretary, through CDC, must create a grant program within 1 year for hospitals and facilities to judiciously use antimicrobials, prioritize facilities without existing programs, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, Tribal-serving hospitals, and safety-net hospitals. A pilot program within 2 years provides grants for outpatient antibiotic stewardship, prioritizing urgent care and retail clinics, with a report to Congress after 5 years. The Secretary must also use surveillance systems to collect data on antimicrobial use and resistance trends, including from federal agencies and private entities, and expand data collection across healthcare settings.