A Bill to Expedite Drug Production

Legislation proposes speeding certain drug applications submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Written byJef Akst

| 1 min read

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Representatives John Carney (D, Delaware) and Larry Bucshon (R, Indiana) on Tuesday (January 31) introduced a bill that would force the US Food and Drug Administration to accelerate the review of certain drug and device applications, Reuters reported.

The bill is intended to relieve drug shortages for illnesses such as cancer, which are up significantly since 2006. In October, President Barack Obama issued an executive order to prioritize the problem, encouraging legislation that would address such shortages. However, two subsequent bills are still deadlocked in Congress.

The new bill calls for the accelerated review of applications from companies that are working to address the need by increasing production of drugs or devices in short supply. It also includes language that would require the Drug Enforcement ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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