Bill to Bolster Childhood Cancer Drugs Passed by House

The House voted Monday to revive a lapsed program to spur development of treatments for childhood cancer and other rare diseases.

The Food and Drug Administration’s priority review voucher program expired in December. The vouchers allow drugmakers with an approved pediatric rare disease treatment to expedite review for another drug. Patient advocates say without them, the pharmaceutical industry lacks incentives to develop drugs to treat rare pediatric diseases.

The measure (H.R. 1262; BGOV Bill Analysis), which was passed by voice vote, would extend the program through Sept. 30, 2029. The bill now heads to the Senate, where ...