Legislation seeks to bolster antibiotics supply chain

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) recently introduced a measure designed to bolster the domestic antibiotics supply chain and address antibiotic resistance threats.

The Onshoring Essential Antibiotics Act would provide $500 million in grants to build and improve manufacturing facilities while also commissioning a study to determine which essential antibiotics are vulnerable to foreign supply chain disruptions.

“China cutting off our supply of antibiotics during a pandemic, like they did with PPE, would be catastrophic,” Cassidy said. “This legislation brings production back to the U.S., creating jobs and strengthening our defense against future outbreaks.”

The lawmakers maintain targeted antibiotics shortages lead to the more common use of antibiotics that attack many kinds of bacteria to treat infections, contributing to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance as bacteria adapt to frequently used antibiotics.

“We ought to be able to produce essential antibiotics that Americans need here on U.S. soil. This is an issue of public health and national security,” Smith said. “By strengthening our country’s capacity to manufacture and store critical drugs, we’ll have more certainty and resources to promote public health during the pandemic and beyond. I’ll be working with Sen. Cassidy to move this bill forward.”