21st Century Cures legislation is gaining momentum

 

 

WASHINGTON - The 21st Century Cures legislation spearheaded by Reps. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., is gaining momentum in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

 

“We in Congress are going to take a comprehensive look at what steps we can take to accelerate the pace of cures in America,” the congressional leaders stated in first announcing the initiative. “We are looking at the full arc of this process — from the discovery of clues in basic science, to streamlining the drug and device development process, to unleashing the power of digital medicine and social media at the treatment delivery phase.”

 

Upton, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, has said he wants legislation aimed at accelerating cures and treatments for diseases on the president’s desk by the end of this year.

 

“Over the past two weeks, the 21st Century Cures initiative has moved through the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee and full committee, enjoying momentum from a continued flood of support,” the Committee noted on its web page on Friday.  “For more than a year, committee members have brought patients, innovators, caregivers, regulators, researchers, and other thought leaders to the table for an open and collaborative conversation. Their common goal: building a 21st Century health care system that embraces personalized medicine and advances in technology, encourages greater innovation, supports more research, and streamlines the system so patients ultimately gain access to more cures and treatments more quickly.”

 

“GPhA commends House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Fred Upton, ranking member Frank Pallone [D-N.J.], Rep. Diana DeGette, Health Subcommittee chair Joe Pitts [R-Pa.], and Health Subcommittee ranking member Gene Green [D-Texas] for their bipartisan leadership around fostering the development of new cures while recognizing the balance between pharmaceutical competition and innovation,” stated Ralph Neas, president and CEO for the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. "GPhA and its members look forward to continuing to work with the Committee and stakeholders on the 21st Century Cures initiative to ensure and protect that balance."

 

“The thoughtful, year-long process that brought countless stakeholders to the table ultimately results in important steps forward for patients,” added John Castellani, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. “Exempting future Food and Drug Administration user fees from sequestration is critical to ensuring the FDA is able to fulfill its public health mission by fostering timely patient access to safe and effective new medicines and advancing regulatory science. We are pleased to see this important provision included in the legislation.”