The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2023 (H.R. 6664) is a bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives in December of 2023 that would strengthen the development of childhood cancer drugs.
For the past several years, Children’s Cancer Cause has advocated that the FDA have the same authority to penalize companies who fail to complete required studies for pediatric drugs as they currently have for studies of adult drugs. The Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2023 (H.R. 6664) strives to achieve that equity.
We thank Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) for their leadership as sponsors of this bill. Here's what they have to say about it:
“We don’t know whether a drug will be effective in children if we don’t test for it,” said Rep. Eshoo. “We’re entering a golden age of medicine thanks to innovative therapies to treat pediatric cancer and other rare diseases. Children must be included in the drug development process, which is why I’m introducing the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act to ensure children can benefit from advancements in new treatments and therapies.”
“Children deserve the best chance at beating any disease — no matter how rare," said Rep. McCaul. "If there's a drug out there that can cure a child, it's imperative we use every resource to study and bring it to market. As chair of the Childhood Cancer Caucus, I'm proud to stand with Rep. Eshoo once again to help protect the lives of our most precious investment: our children.”
The Innovation In Pediatric Drugs Act of 2023 would make needed improvements to the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) and builds upon the promise of the Research To Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) Act.
Learn more about the bill:
We encourage you reach out to your Members of Congress to let them know about this legislation and ensure that it has a strong launch.
Follow the Children’s Cancer Cause Blog for updates on this legislation: