The Senate Health Committee advanced five bills Wednesday related to accelerating drug and medical device approval, and other FDA and NIH reforms, according to The Hill.
These and other bills will later be combined into what will be the Senate's version of the 21st Century Cures Act, according to the report. The Cures Act passed in the House last July.
One of the bills that advanced Wednesday would speed FDA approval of drugs for severe issues or unmet needs, and another would help the FDA hold onto productive employees with increased pay, according to the report.
However, a deal is still pending on new NIH medical research funding, some of which would potentially be used for the cancer "moonshot" initiative, according to the report. At issue is whether the funding is mandatory. Democrats have said mandatory funding is a dealbreaker, an idea that is not supported by Republicans.
However, according to The Hill, the Senate may be closer to a deal, though it is still unfinished. The Finance Committee is still looking for ways to offset the funding, according to the report.
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