The SUPER BUGS Act directs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy—in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies—to secure international cooperation for developing and commercializing medicines and treatments for pandemic and epidemic diseases, particularly those resistant to antibiotics. The bill recognizes that antimicrobial-resistant pathogens pose significant threats to U.S. national security and that international collaboration can help prevent outbreaks from reaching American borders. The Secretary of State must submit this strategy to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment and must work with foreign countries, multilateral organizations, and private sector partners to implement it. The strategy should prioritize equitable contributions from participating nations, strengthen partner countries' public health capabilities, avoid duplicating existing efforts, and focus resources on treatments with the greatest potential health impact. While the legislation does not specify funding amounts, it emphasizes leveraging existing domestic and international funds through partnerships, contracts with U.S. companies, and alternative payment models to efficiently develop and distribute these critical health products globally.
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