WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives today failed to pass H.R. 5247, the Tricket Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018, under suspension of the rules. H.R. 5247 would improve access to experimental treatments for patients with terminal diseases or conditions.
“We are incredibly disappointed in our Democrat colleagues for not supporting this carefully crafted bill, delivering increased patient access to investigational drugs for those that have no other treatment options through the existing compassionate use program as well as a new alternative pathway," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). “For months we sought to strike the right balance by allowing patients greater access to these unapproved treatments and therapies while also ensuring proper patient protections. This bill does just that, with more robust informed consent and real-time reporting, as well as requiring FDA notification of participation. This bill is fair, reasonable, and is deserving of Democratic support."
