FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 September 2024
Contact: Kevin G. McGuire, 202-538-2386 (mobile)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, a provision from Congresswoman Nanette Barragán’s (CA-44) Creating Hope Reauthorization Act, which she co-leads, passed the House of Representatives. The provision would reauthorize the FDA priority review voucher program to incentivize pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for children with rare diseases.
The provision was included in the Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024 that unanimously passed the House on Tuesday. The Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024 would provide the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to require pediatric cancer trials for certain new drugs.
“No family ever wants to be faced with a cancer diagnosis, especially the diagnosis of a child,” said Rep. Barragán. “Childhood cancers are classified as rare diseases and currently, most rare diseases do not have an FDA-approved treatment. That is why I applaud the House passage of the Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024, which will save the lives of children and ensure access to quality, FDA-approved care. I am proud that the bill also includes a provision similar to a bill I co-lead, the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act, which will extend a critical program to incentivize the development of new drugs to treat rare pediatric diseases like childhood cancers. Thank you to my colleagues, Representatives McCaul, Eshoo, Bilirakis, Trahan, and Burgess, for their partnership in leading the reauthorization of this program through the House. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do their part and get this bill to the President’s desk, ensuring no child is left behind.”
The Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024 would reauthorize the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) for another five years.
# # #
Congressmember Nanette Barragán represents California’s 44th District. She sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and works on environmental justice and healthcare