On Tuesday, the Alliance for Aging Research responded to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee 21st Century Cures Initiative and its recently released discussion draft.
Our comments (which you can download below) recognized Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), and the House Energy and Commerce Committee staff for their efforts to undertake an initiative aimed at accelerating the pace of drug, biologic, and device development for patients with high unmet needs. Given the glacial speed of innovation for many age-related diseases, we share this desire with the committee. However, we are concerned that the draft bill in its current form threatens the ability of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fully carry out the well-meaning intent behind the 21st Century Cures Initiative. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft bill and look forward to continuing to work with Congress as this process moves forward!
