Congress sends Obama bill incentivizing Zika drug development

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Politics | Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:11pm EDT

Congress sends Obama bill incentivizing Zika drug development

BY TONI CLARKE

U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill to provide financial incentives to companies developing treatments for the Zika virus, sending the measure on to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature.

The measure allows the Food and Drug Administration to include Zika drug developers in the agency's priority review voucher program. The program encourages manufacturers to study treatments for diseases that might not be profitable by expediting the regulatory review of a more lucrative drug in their research pipeline.

The House of Representatives passed the bill on a voice vote, without a roll call, weeks after the same measure was approved by the Senate.

Democrats and administration officials are also urging the Republican-controlled Congress to grant $1.8 billion in emergency funds to combat the spread of Zika. In a temporary fix, the White House said last week that it would redirect $589 million in allocated funds to prepare for the mosquito that carries the disease to emerge in the continental United States.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-congress-idUSKCN0X92O5

[Ilsa]

1. That will take years to get results, won't it?

Meanwhile, Republicans defund PP which could help women avoid untimely pregnancies and help them monitor their pregnancies for zika defects.

[scscholar]

2. More disgusting corporate welfare!

The Republicans love flooding corporations with cash.