Senator Hassan Discusses How to Combat Superbugs at Senate Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) questioned experts about how to spur research into drugs and other tools to help combat the rise of “superbugs,” infections resistant to traditional antibiotic or anti-fungal treatments.

“Superbugs,” or antimicrobial resistance, occur when a bacterial or fungal microbe becomes resistant to antibiotics or antifungals. Antimicrobial resistance and “superbugs” are a growing threat due to a number of factors, including the slowed development of antimicrobial drugs over the past few decades. Senator Hassan raised concerns about the lack of incentives to develop antimicrobial drugs and other key tools to combat antimicrobial resistance, such as diagnostics.

To watch Senator Hassan’s questioning, click here.

Senator Hassan questioned Christine Ann Miller, the President and CEO of Melinta Therapeutics, about obstacles that small biotech companies face in antibiotic innovation and about ways to incentivize them to bring new antimicrobial drugs to market. Senator Hassan followed up by discussing potential changes to the tax code to incentivize startups to pursue innovative research into antimicrobials.

Senator Hassan then discussed with Dr. Helen Boucher, Dean and Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, innovation in non-drug products that are essential for addressing antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Boucher emphasized the importance of infection prevention, diagnostic testing, and educating the future workforce to prepare ourselves for the growing threat of superbugs.

Lastly, Senator Hassan asked Dr. Michael Apley, a Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, about the responsible use of antibiotics for animals and how we can engage providers in a broader conversation about responsible and medically-appropriate use of antibiotics.

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