Pharma scrambling on right-to-try

Momentum is intensifying rapidly for enactment of federal right-to-try legislation, forcing the pharmaceutical industry to scramble to determine whether and how to respond. On Tuesday, Vice President Pence invited right-to-try advocates to the White House and told them that he and President Trump strongly support their cause, according to participants in the meeting and a White House statement. Pence said at the meeting that Trump has told him many times that he supports right-to-try legislation, patient advocate Laura McLinn told reporters Wednesday. McLinn attended the meeting with her son Jordan, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Pharma companies oppose right-to-try legislation that has been introduced in both houses of Congress, but they want to avoid a quarrel with Trump, industry lobbyists who declined to be identified told BioCentury. PhRMA has had preliminary conversations with congressional staff about the possibility of modifying the legislation, the lobbyists said. ...