Lawmakers introduce permanent Priority Review voucher bill

Five U.S. Representatives introduced the Advancing Hope Act of 2015, a bill that would reauthorize and make permanent the Priority Review voucher incentive program for rare pediatric diseases. The bill's sponsors include Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)

The voucher program was introduced by legislators in 2011 as the Creating Hope Act and passed into law in 2012 as part of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act. It was designed to give biotechs and pharma companies incentives to develop treatments for rare pediatric diseases. It extended an existing voucher program for neglected tropical diseases. ...