The Honorable Xavier Becerra
Secretary
US Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, DC 20201
October 3, 2022
Dear Secretary Becerra,
On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing health care providers, public health
professionals, scientists, patients, and the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries, thank you for being the first Secretary of Health and Human Services to attend the World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Congress in September 2022 and for your powerful remarks about the urgent need for action to strengthen the antimicrobial pipeline and ensure optimal antimicrobial use. We strongly agree that we must make the current “moment into a movement” by translating increased attention on AMR into meaningful action to benefit patients. To achieve our common goals, we respectfully request that you call on Congress to advance the PASTEUR Act this year.
The PASTEUR Act continues to gain momentum and currently has over 60 bipartisan cosponsors. We greatly appreciate that the President included a proposal that aligns with PASTEUR in his 2023 budget request, and we were encouraged to see the released Senate Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill for 2023 support that proposal. AMR thought leaders broadly agree that PASTEUR would have a transformative effect on the broken antimicrobial pipeline, delivering the novel, life-saving therapeutics that patients desperately need to fight superbugs. PASTEUR would also provide new funding for rural, critical access and safety net hospitals to support antimicrobial stewardship, to ensure that antimicrobials are used appropriately to limit the development of resistance, and to ensure that the vulnerable patients served by these hospitals can have access to the benefits of antimicrobial
stewardship. The time for PASTEUR is now.
Despite broad recognition of the need for action on AMR, congressional leaders have not yet sufficiently prioritized this issue. Delays in the passage of PASTEUR are delays in the development of novel antimicrobials to treat highly resistant, life-threatening infections—delays that many patients, including those particularly susceptible to infections, such as patients with cystic fibrosis, cancer, or organ transplants, cannot afford.
Once again, we thank you for your leadership in the fight against AMR and hope you will direct your passion for solutions at a key audience that is well positioned to advance meaningful change—the US Congress. Our diverse group of stakeholders is united behind PASTEUR, and your voice can help us cross the finish line.
Sincerely,
AdvaMedDx
Aequor Inc.
Allergy & Asthma Network
Alliance for Aging Research
Alliance for Biosecurity
Alpha-1 Foundation
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American Brain Coalition
American Gastroenterological Association
American Society for Microbiology
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
American Urological Association
Amputee Coalition
AMR Patient Advocate
AMR.Solutions
Arthritis Foundation
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Biocom California
bioMerieux Inc.
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
BioVersys AG
Black, Gifted & Whole
Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund USA
Boomer Esiason Foundation
Bugworks
Cancer Support Community
Clarametyx Biosciences, Inc.
Coalition of Skin Diseases
Colorectal Cancer Alliance
COPD Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy
Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center
Entasis Therapeutics
Food Animal Concerns Trust
Forge Therapeutics, Inc.
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
GARDP North America
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group
Global Coalition on Aging
GSK
Health Care Without Harm
Healthcare Leadership Council
HealthHIV
HealthyWomen
Hesed Medical Associates
HIV Medicine Association
Immune Deficiency Foundation
Incubate
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
Locus Biosciences
LUNGevity Foundation
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Making-A-Difference in Infectious Diseases
Merck
Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition
Microbion Corporation
National Association for Hispanic Elderly
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Caucus and Center on Black Aging
National Coalition for LGBTQ Health
National Consumers League
National Hispanic Council on Aging
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Psoriasis Foundation
Novo Holdings
Novo Nordisk Foundation
NTM Info & Research
Omniose
One Health Trust
Oragenics, Inc.
Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Peggy Lillis Foundation for C. diff Education & Awareness
Peptilogics, Inc.
Phare Bio
Prevent Blindness
Renal Physicians Association
Sepsis Alliance
Seres Therapeutics
Shionogi, Inc.
Sinsa Labs
Spina Bifida Association
Stuart B. Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance
The Gerontological Society of America
The Joint Commission
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Transcultural Nursing Society
Trust for America's Health
United Spinal Association
Venatorx Pharmaceuticals
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