Eshoo Bill to Improve Pediatric Drugs Passes House Unanimously

Washington, D.C.- Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted unanimously for her Give Kids a Chance Act (H.R. 3433) yesterday. H.R. 3433 is the most comprehensive legislation Congress has passed in more than a decade to address childhood cancer and rare diseases.

"This vote will save children's lives. I am so grateful to my colleagues for the months of hard work to pass this milestone bipartisan legislation," Rep. Eshoo said. "The legislation will ensure that children have access to the most innovative treatments and therapies for cancer and rare disease. Our laws must keep up with the rapid advances in medicine."

The legislation specifically:

• Reauthorizes the FDA's pediatric priority voucher program for five years to ensure the development of innovative drugs for children continues.
• Directs pharmaceutical companies to conduct pediatric trials with combinations of drugs, something that is already done for adults.
• Brings the FDA's enforcement capabilities for children on par with that of adults with the goal to complete pediatric studies on time instead of removing a drug from the market because the study wasn't completed.
• Dedicates existing funds for pediatric research through NIH's Best Pharmaceutical for Children Act Program for three years.

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