Industry split on compassionate access bill

A Congressional effort designed to force companies to have transparent, accountable policies on compassionate, or expanded, access to unapproved drugs has attracted strong support from patient groups and a mixed reaction from industry.

Shire plc (LSE:SHP; NASDAQ:SHPG) expressed support for the Andrea Sloan Compassionate Use Reform and Enhancement Act ( HR 909) in an April 14 letter to its sponsor, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), and leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. HR 909 was included in a discussion draft of the committee's 21st Century Cures legislation. At least two companies, Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) and GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK), have opposed the bill publicly. ...