Position

Food and Drug Administration and Drug Review

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a central role in protecting and promoting public health. The FDA regulates not only human drugs and food, but also medical devices, dietary supplements, and animal drugs and feeds. Each year, the FDA receives negligible budget increase relative to other health-related federal agencies and yet its costs increase, its missions evolve, and the scope of science expands. The Alliance for Aging Research strongly believes that the FDA will not be prepared to evaluate many life-saving therapies and technologies in the future without a renewed focus from advocacy groups and policymakers on strengthening and adequately equipping the agency.

Through individual efforts as well as activities coordinated through the Coalition for a Stronger FDA and the FDA Alliance, the Alliance for Aging Research is committed to securing sufficient appropriations in FY 2008 to cover modernization costs associated with future-focused programs at FDA and increased operating costs resulting from scientific advances within the Agency.

Representation of Older Patients in Clinical Trials

Individuals over the age of 75 with co-morbidities remain underrepresented in trials of new experimental drugs that will be used to treat older patients, despite the fact that they make up the largest group of pharmaceutical consumers in the United States. The Alliance believes that federal government should develop incentives for private industry to stimulate increased pharmaceutical research and testing of new experimental drugs using older individuals as subjects.

The Alliance for Aging Research supports the introduction and passage of legislative proposals that would create incentives for private industry to increase utilization of older Americans in clinical trials for new experimental drugs to treat age-related diseases and conditions.