Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act, legislation that will improve outcomes for children with cancer by ensuring they have access to essential treatments and can participate in critical trials.
“No child should have to endure the pain and suffering that many with cancer have unfortunately faced,” said Sen. Mullin. “The extension of the Pediatric Priority Review Voucher Program incentivizes companies to develop treatments and therapies for pediatric diseases. Additionally, this bill will allow kids to participate in combination trials that include targeted medicines to ensure that they are able to fight cancer with every possible option out there. Our kids deserve a fighting chance and that is exactly what this bill gives them.”
“Children with cancer deserve access to the most advanced medicines possible, and we must ensure our medical professionals have every tool at their disposal to treat them,” said Sen. Bennet. “Our bill will help child cancer patients access lifesaving trials and therapies to battle this disease. I will work across the aisle to get this done and keep fighting to end children’s cancer.”
“The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher program offers hope to the estimated 15 million children in the U.S. living with a rare disease, most of whom currently have no FDA-approved treatments for their conditions. Every day without action is a lost opportunity to drive forward treatments for these children. The hope generated by the program’s successes is now at risk. We urge elected officials to act quickly and come together in a bipartisan manner to reauthorize this crucial program. Time is of the essence for these families—there’s no time to wait,” Pamela Gavin, Chief Executive Officer, National Organization for Rare Disorders.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to live a long, healthy and productive life. Sadly, there are children living with rare diseases who will never get that chance. This bipartisan legislation can help. It renews the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program, which for more than a decade has helped incentivize the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases, at no cost to taxpayers. I’d like to thank Sens. Mullin and Bennet for sponsoring this bipartisan legislation and supporting the reauthorization of this vital program, and for keeping hope alive for countless families and children living with a rare disease,” John F. Crowley, President & CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).
“Nearly 3 out of 4 rare diseases originate in childhood, yet the vast majority of affected children have no FDA-approved treatment. The Give Kids a Chance Act takes vital steps to accelerate the development and availability of therapies for these devastating conditions. The creation of the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher injected hope and incentives for innovation into the pediatric drug development pipeline. The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases extends our profound appreciation to Senators Mullin and Bennet for championing the Give Kids a Chance Act. This legislation safeguards a critical incentive that has driven progress in rare disease drug development without imposing any burden on taxpayers. With the temporary lapse of the PRV Program causing uncertainty and delays in therapy development decisions, it is essential to restore its authorization in a timely manner and ensure continued innovation for those who need it most,” Jamie Sullivan, Vice President of Policy at the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases.
“Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Vouchers provide crucial incentives for pharmaceutical and biotech companies to develop new therapies for rare conditions. PRVs make it possible for companies to invest in products that address high unmet medical needs— including potentially curative cell and gene therapies— and without which such products could be dropped from their pipeline. It’s imperative that Congress reauthorize this essential, commonsense program to support continued innovation to give rare disease patients hope for cures,” Erica Cischke, Vice President U.S. Government Affairs, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
Full text of the Give Kids a Chance Act can be found here.
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