Pew Supports Antibiotics Innovation Bill in Senate

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sharon Ladin, director of the Pew Health Group's Antibiotics and Innovation Project, issued the following statement regarding the bipartisan, bicameral Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN) Act, introduced today by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).  The bill is a companion to H.R. 2182 and contains provisions to incentivize the creation of new antibiotics to combat serious drug-resistant infections.

"We commend Sen. Blumenthal and Sen. Corker for their leadership and are committed to working with them to pass the GAIN Act.

"Drug-resistant infections are a growing threat to the health of all Americans.  Unfortunately, economic, regulatory and scientific challenges are stifling antibiotic innovation.  New pharmaceuticals cost hundreds of millions of dollars for basic and clinical research, but antibiotics typically produce relatively small revenues, making them less attractive investments than other types of drugs.  In addition, clinical studies of these drugs are costly and difficult to conduct.

"The GAIN Act takes an important first step toward overcoming these hurdles by creating economic incentives to spur the development of new antibiotics that we need to treat serious infections and save lives."

Pew Health Group
The Pew Health Group is the health and consumer-product safety arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit organization that applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life. www.pewtrusts.org/health

SOURCE Pew Health Group