California Assembly passes right-to-try bill

The California Assembly voted 74-2 to pass a bill that would allow drug manufacturers to provide investigational therapies that have completed a Phase I trial but have not been approved by FDA to eligible terminally ill patients. The legislation includes liability protection for health care providers, and authorizes but does not require health plans to cover investigational therapies.

Assemblyman Ian Calderon (D) sponsored the bill, AB-159, known as the Right to Try Act. Four Assembly members did not vote on the bill. A companion bill, SB-149, has passed the California Senate's Committee on Health. ...