Kids v Cancer Applauds the Introduction of the Must-Pass “Creating Hope Reauthorization Act” to Permanently Reauthorize the Pediatric Voucher Program

S.4010 – A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make permanent the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue priority review vouchers to encourage treatments for rare pediatric diseases

Washington, DC (July 18, 2020). Kids v Cancer applauds Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for their commitment to drug development for kids with life threatening illness and for their introduction of the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act (S. 4010).

Kids v Cancer also thanks Representatives G.K. Butterfield and Michael McCaul for their leadership in pediatric rare disease drug development and their introduction of the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act in the House in September 2019 (H.R. 4439).

103 Days Before Sunset

Nancy Goodman, Executive Director of Kids v Cancer stated: “The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act is a must-pass bill. Unless Congress passes the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act to permanently reauthorize the pediatric voucher program by September 30, 2020, the pediatric voucher program (21 USC 360ff), will sunset, ending a critical incentive program for the development of drugs for kids with life threatening illnesses. Today’s introduction in the Senate is a promising step forward.”

“The pediatric priority review voucher program encourages the development of new drugs for seriously ill children, including children with cancer, by providing a voucher to pharmaceutical companies which develop such drugs. Vouchers can be used to expedite FDA approval for any other future drug, which allows those future drugs to reach markets faster.”

She further stated, “The rare pediatric priority review voucher program has resulted in 22 novel therapies for seriously ill children, and in over one billion dollars of incentives for companies to develop rare pediatric disease drugs with no cost to consumers or taxpayers.”

She also noted the Herculean efforts of the Congressional staff in getting this bill introduced and thanks Sara Maskornick ( Senator Casey), Amy Pellingrino (Senator Collins), Caitlin Van Sant (Representative Butterfield) and Thomas Rice (Representative McCaul).

Dr Doug Hawkins, Chair of the Children’s Oncology Group stated: “The Children’s Oncology Group is highly supportive of the impact that the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act brings to the care of children with cancer. There remains a significant need to focus effort on making better medicines more available for all children and the pediatric voucher program plays an instrumental role in this effort.”

The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act has been endorsed by the following organizations:

3/32 Foundation, Adam’s Angels Ministry, Alex’s Army Childhood Cancer Foundation, Amanda Riley Foundation, Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses, Braden’s Hope For Childhood Cancer, Bridge the Gap – SYNGAP Education and Research Foundation, Brooke’s Blossoming Hope for Childhood Cancer, Brown University/Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Caleb’s Crusade for Childhood Cancer, Cancer Care Manitoba, Cancer Free KIDS, Carson Leslie Foundation, CHEMOWARRIOR: the Eli Sidler Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Chloe’s Journey of Faith Foundation, Christina Renna Foundation Inc., Circle of Care, Conner Cares, Curtana Pharmaceuticals, DADA2 Foundation, Daniel’s House Publications, DBSA, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, FFAME (Family, Friends and Allies of ME/cfs, Foster Tree Service, Gabriella’s Smile Foundation, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, GIC Group/Global Food Safety Forum, Gold Rush Cure Foundation, Grace Way Foundation, Grandparents in Action, Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts General Hospital, International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), Jack’s Angels, Jeffrey’s Voice, Joey’s Wings Foundation, Jonah’s Just Begun, Julia’s Grace Foundation, Kids vs Cancer, Kids Without Cancer, Kier’s Kidz, Lucy’s Love Bus, Mackey Children’s Cancer Foundation, MIB Agents, Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation, NanoValent Pharmaceuticals, National MPS Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders® (NORD), NF2 BioSolutions, Noah’s Bandage Project, Noah’s Hope, Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice, Pediatric Assessment, Learning & Support, Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Pediatric Valley Medical Center, Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, Rett’s Roost, Sadie Keller Foundation, Samuel Jeffers Childhood Cancer Foundation Section 32, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Stephen T Marchello Scholarship Foundation, Super Sam Foundation, Swifty Foundation, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Team G Childhood Cancer Foundation, Teen Cancer America, The Cooper Max Foundation, The Cure Starts Now North Texas, The Dandy Horse, Inc., The Jesse Heikkila Foundation, The Maeve McNicholas Memorial Foundation, The National Children’s Cancer Society, The Nicholas Conor Institute, The Progeria Research Foundation, The Rare Childhood Cancer Advocacy Group, The Scott Carter Foundation, The Steven G AYA Cancer Research Fund, The Valerie Fund, This Star Won’t Go Out, Toby Knapp Radio, Wade’s Army, We Believe Foundation, Wylie’s Day Foundation, Y-mAbs Therapeutics Inc., Biotechnology Innovation Organization.

KIDS V CANCER brings the biotech and pharmaceutical industry to pediatric cancer drug development through The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act (21 USC 360ff) and The RACE for Children Act (21 USC 355c).

See kidsvcancer.org or contact Kids v Cancer at 646-361-3590.

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