Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act

2/8/2022, 11:17 PM

Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act

This bill establishes a grant program, as well as a new center within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to facilitate access to investigational therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (i.e., ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive and fatal disease).

Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants for the provision of investigational drugs for ALS and other rapidly progressing neurodegenerative diseases through an expanded access (i.e., compassionate use) program. HHS may award these grants to (1) a small business that is the sponsor of an investigational new drug application, or (2) a participating clinical trial site for such a sponsor.

Additionally, HHS must establish within the FDA a Center of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Diseases. The center shall have duties and authorities similar to those of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence, which helps expedite the development of medical products and assists providers in requesting access to investigational drugs.

Congress
116

Number
HR - 7071

Introduced on
2020-06-01

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

6/1/2020

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act

This bill establishes a grant program, as well as a new center within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to facilitate access to investigational therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (i.e., ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive and fatal disease).

Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants for the provision of investigational drugs for ALS and other rapidly progressing neurodegenerative diseases through an expanded access (i.e., compassionate use) program. HHS may award these grants to (1) a small business that is the sponsor of an investigational new drug application, or (2) a participating clinical trial site for such a sponsor.

Additionally, HHS must establish within the FDA a Center of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Diseases. The center shall have duties and authorities similar to those of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence, which helps expedite the development of medical products and assists providers in requesting access to investigational drugs.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo provide for the acceleration of access to clinical therapies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Neurological disorders
Prescription drugs

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary8/11/2020

Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act

This bill establishes a grant program, as well as a new center within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to facilitate access to investigational therapies for neur...


Latest Action6/1/2020
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.