Bill would fund research into treatments for drug-resistant infections

Bipartisan legislation recently was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate that aims to advance the research and development of treatments for drug-resistant infections.

The Developing an Innovative Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms (DISARM) Act of 2019 would allow Medicare to offer an add-on payment to inpatient hospitals that use a qualifying DISARM antibiotic to treat a serious or life-threatening infection.

Hospitals must be members of a specified Centers for Disease Control (CDC) antibiotic stewardship program to qualify for the payment.

“The need for the DISARM Act has never been greater as antibiotic resistance threatens to undo decades of medical progress and the few small companies remaining in the antibiotics market struggle to stay in business,” James M. Hughes, professor emeritus of medicine at Atlanta’s Emory University School of Medicine, said. “This important legislation can help drive optimal antibiotic use and stabilize the antibiotic market for innovators and investors.”

Annually, more than 2 million Americans are infected with drug-resistant infections, according to the CDC, and at least 23,000 people die. The CDC calls antibiotic resistance one of history’s largest public health challenges.

The DISARM Act was reintroduced by Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA). The bill was originally introduced last year by Casey and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT).