Dive Brief:
- Stat News reports that there is an emerging partisan split in progressing the 21st Century Cures Act, with Republicans focused on expediting drug approvals and Democrats seeking more funding for the NIH and the FDA.
- One major area of contention centers on funding. Republicans do not want to increase funding for the NIH and the FDA, according to a report from Stat News.
- Senator Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat, contends that without the regulatory oversight provided by the FDA, expediting drug approvals might result in compromised safety over the long-term.
Dive Insight:
Republican leaders in the Senare are reportedly not giving in and have threatened to "chop the bill into parts" rather than have it move through the legislative process as wholesale bill which includes big funding boosts. The House has already approved a version of the 21st Century Cures Act, but it is still languishing in the Senate as this contentious process unfolds.
The version approved by the House in July increased funding for the NIH by almost $9 billion above current levels over the next five years, while FDA funding was also increased (though not nearly as much).