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No-Device 'Right-To-Try' Bill Fails To Pass House Muster

 
• By Sue Darcey

"Right-to-try" legislation aimed at giving severely ill patients access to drug treatments not yet approved by US FDA failed to win support from the needed super-majority in a Tuesday night vote in the US House. Before the vote, the bill's scope was narrowed by removing medical device provisions, and making it applicable only to those facing death within a matter of months. A Senate version still in play retains the device language.

Washington DC Capitol dome detail with waving american flag

A "right-to-try" bill that would have allowed morbidly ill patients the right to do an end-run around US FDA to receive experimental drug treatments failed March 13 to win the two-thirds majority support needed for passage in the US House. The final vote tally was 259 in favor and 140 nays, divided predominately along party lines, with 227 Republicans voting for, and two against; while Democrats voted 32 for, and 138 against.

The draft legislation, H.R. 5247, was reintroduced and substantially changed March 10 from its original House form, H.R. 878, and...

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