On December 13, 2016, President Obama signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act, reauthorizing the Creating Hope Act until 2020.
The U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century Cures Act and with it, reauthorization of the Creating Hope Act pediatric priority review voucher program on December 7, 2016, voting 94-5. Thank you to our sponsors, Congressmen Butterfield, McCaul and Van Hollen, and Senators Casey and Isakson, for their commitment to children with cancer and other rare diseases. Thank you to the FDA for executing this critical program.
Now, academic researchers and biotechs will have four more years of Creating Hope Act financial incentives to develop better treatments for kids with cancer and other serious illnesses.
The Creating Hope Act works. Since 2012, the Creating Hope Act has created almost $1 billion in R&D incentives for pediatric drug development.
Pursuant to the 21st Century Cures, the Creating Hope Act pediatric PRV is reauthorized until September 20, 2020. Moreover, drugs that receive rare pediatric designations by that date will qualify for vouchers as long as they are approved by September 20, 2023.
We thank Senators Bob Casey and Johnny Isaakson, Representatives Michael McCaul, G.K. Butterfield and Chris Van Hollen.