In light of the recent Ebola outbreak and concerns over health safety, members of the U.S. Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee have introduced a bill that would add Ebola to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) priority review voucher program, which is designed as an incentive for developers of treatments and vaccines for neglected tropical diseases. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the HELP Committee, and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Ranking Member of the HELP Committee, both expressed hope that passing this bill would encourage developers to devote knowledge and effort towards treating and preventing Ebola.
The HELP Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill on November 19th. To read the HELP Committee's press release discussing the bill, click here.
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.