WASHINGTON, D.C. -- January 27, 2012 -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) sent letters to leadership of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee today urging Congress to reauthorize legislation that helps to bring safe and effective medicines to market quickly.
The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), an agreement reached between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the pharmaceutical industry, must be reauthorized for the fifth time this year since it was first passed in 1992 in order to ensure that the process for evaluating new medicines and treatments can proceed uninterrupted. Key priorities for cancer patients in the legislation include, increased patient involvement and input in the drug development process; increased funding for the FDA so the agency can safely and effectively evaluate the growing number of therapies and treatments submitted for review; enhanced capacity at the FDA to accommodate innovation and advancements in the area of gene-targeted therapies and treatments; the establishment of a rare disease program to incentivize the research and development of new treatments for childhood cancers and other rare diseases that affect small populations; and a commitment to short-term and long-term solutions to address the critical drug shortage issue creating barriers to care for too many cancer patients in this country.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alissa Crispino or Steven Weiss American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Phone: (202) 661-5772 or (202) 661-5711 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] #acscan #cancer #PDUFA