Senator Blumenthal Holds Press Conference at Hartford Hospital in Support of New Drugs Aimed at Fighting Superbugs

December 21, 2016

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Dr. Jack Ross, the Director of Infectious Disease at Hartford Hospital urged prompt approval of new treatments following passage of legislation Blumenthal helped to lead to streamline approval of new drugs to treat antibiotic resistant suberbugs at a December 20 press conference at Hartford Hospital.

Earlier this year, researchers confirmed for the first time that a patient in the United States had become infected with a “superbug” bacteria resistant to all known antibiotics. Scientists and doctors had long dreaded such a discovery, which could signal the end for antibiotic treatments as they are currently used.

Blumenthal helped to lead the bipartisan Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics for Health (PATH) Act to spur development of new antibacterial and antifungal drugs to treat patients with bacterial infections resistant to conventional antibiotics. Key provisions of the bill were incorporated and passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law last week.

“Antibiotic resistant superbugs are a public health menace that we cannot afford to ignore. New bipartisan legislation I helped to lead will spur development and create a streamlined path to approval of new, lifesaving antibiotics. New treatments are needed now,” Blumenthal said.