President Takes Aim At Superbugs

Abstract

President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress for $1.2 billion for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in fiscal 2016—nearly double the federal funds allotted in fiscal 2015. These so-called superbugs are linked to an estimated 23,000 deaths and 2 million infections in the U.S. each year. The White House released its plan last week in advance of the President’s 2016 budget proposal, which is expected this week. Under the proposal, the National Institutes of Health and the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority would get $650 million to accelerate the development of new antibiotics and rapid diagnostics for detecting drug-resistant bacteria. More than $280 million would go to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to improve monitoring of antibiotic use and resistance. FDA would receive $47 million to evaluate new antibiotics and promote antibiotic stewardship in animal agriculture. In addition, the Department of Agriculture would see its budget for antibiotic research ...