Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Right-To-Try' Bills Give Patients False Hope And Weaken FDA Safety Measures, Ethicists Argue
Stat: Physicians, Ethicists Urge Congress Not To Pass 'Right To Try' Legislation
Dozens of doctors, medical ethicists, and lawyers are warning Congress that legislation to allow Americans with life-threatening conditions access to unapproved, experimental drugs risks harming patients’ health. The letter was drafted by Alison Bateman-House, associate professor of medical ethics at NYU Langone Health, along with some of her colleagues. It is addressed to the leaders of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the committee currently considering a so-called “right-to-try” bill. The letter was circulated for online signatures on Thursday, and organizers said they planned to send the letter on Feb. 5. (Swetlitz, 2/1)
The Hill: Right To Try Act Gains Momentum After Trump Pitch
Advocates of “right to try” legislation have been given a jolt of momentum by President Trump’s decision to tout the bill during his State of the Union address. The legislation would allow patients with a serious illness to request access to experimental medicines that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t yet approved. (Roubein, 2/1)
In other pharmaceutical news —
The Hill: Trump's Vows To Take On Drug Prices, Opioids Draw Skepticism
President Trump has pledged to take action to combat the opioid epidemic and reduce drug prices, but one year into his tenure, advocates and industry have grown skeptical of his promises. During his State of the Union speech Tuesday, Trump said one of his top priorities is “fixing the injustice of high drug prices.” (Weixel, 2/1)
The Hill: New Group Plans Midterm Spending Against High Drug Prices
A new patient group says it plans to spend seven figures this year backing candidates who support policies to lower drug prices in what it hopes will be a counter to the pharmaceutical industry. The group is called Patients for Affordable Drugs NOW, and is founded by a cancer patient named David Mitchell. (Sullivan, 2/1)
