The Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) for Children Act encourages new research for childhood cancers by changing the drug development process.
There are many cancer drugs currently in development, but most are specifically focused on adult cancers. The RACE Act works to ensure that the innovation occurring for adult cancer treatments also benefits children. Under the Act, the FDA is authorized to require drug companies to test drugs developed for adult cancers on similar childhood cancers.
The RACE Act was a part of the larger FDA Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on August 18, 2017.
ACS CAN said in a statement, “This legislation maintains a strong collaboration between the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry, with the goal of bringing drugs and devices to the market and making them accessible to patients in a timely way … Additionally, the bill includes provisions that address the ongoing challenges in developing childhood cancer therapies by expanding research of adult cancer drugs in children with cancer.”
After months of delay and hard negotiations, Congress has finally passed a funding bill! The bill includes a small increase for cancer research and prevention programs.