WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 3, 2017 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) applauds the introduction of the Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) for Children Act (H.R. 1231/S. 456) – bipartisan legislation that would expand drug research for children with cancer, leading to better outcomes for pediatric patients.
In a letter to the bill sponsors, ACS CAN thanked Congressmen G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for addressing the current challenges in developing childhood cancer drugs and taking steps to modify the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA). While PREA was created to increase the number of drugs available to treat pediatric illnesses, it has done little to ensure that adult cancer therapies are tested in children.
“While PREA was intended to encourage manufacturers to study the effects of drugs in childhood diseases, it has not been successful in driving pediatric studies for therapeutic cancer drugs,” the letter stated. “By ensuring adult cancer drugs with the same molecular targets as pediatric cancers are subject to PREA requirements, the RACE Act will encourage new research and development in childhood cancer.”
Read the full text of the letter for more information.
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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