Gottheimer Amendment Included in H.R. 3 Package for R&D on Rare and Life-threatening Diseases, Gottheimer Introduces New Bipartisan Bill to Invest in Research & Development of Cures

WASHINGTON – Today, Wednesday, December 11, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer introduced new bipartisan legislation, the Protecting America’s Life Saving Medicines Act, with Congressman Fred Upton (MI-6), which will ensure continued innovation and research to further the development of life-saving medicines for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and rare disorders. This bipartisan bill will provide federal investment in qualified clinical testing for drug applications that address unmet medical needs to treat rare and life-threatening diseases.

Gottheimer also announced that his amendment to H.R. 3, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, will be included in a package of potential changes to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. Gottheimer’s amendment requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify conditions without an FDA-approved treatment where the development of a treatment would fill an unmet medical need for a serious or life-threatening condition or rare disease. The amendment also requires HHS to identify appropriate incentives that would lead to the development of such treatments.

Gottheimer noted that his amendment to H.R. 3 is vital due to the bill’s potential impact on research and development efforts for early-stage drug applications that could provide cures for critical conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and rare disorders.

“When it comes to rising health care costs, the people of North Jersey have had more than enough. Our hardworking families want and deserve more affordable health care and they’re counting on life-saving drugs from the cutting-edge research and life sciences development taking place in New Jersey,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “To make this happen, we need to be focused on lowering out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, while simultaneously encouraging innovation and ensuring we’re investing in new cures that can save lives. That’s always been one of our greatest global advantages.”

Gottheimer continued, “These are areas where the science is the most difficult, but also the most important, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and other rare disorders. The next cure could always be just around the corner and we need to make sure that researchers aren’t forced to abandon what might be the next cure for a disease.”

Gottheimer’s bipartisan Protecting America’s Life Saving Medicines Act will provide a tax credit for qualified clinical testing for drug applications that address unmet medical needs to treat rare and life threatening diseases.

In New Jersey alone, the biopharmaceutical industry supports more than 300,000 jobs and $83 billion in economic output every year. There are approximately 139 manufacturing plants in New Jersey that are involved in the production of medicines for patient use.

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