WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the RACE
for Children Act became law, ensuring that novel and exciting new
cancer drugs will now be developed not only for adults, but also
for children with cancer.
Nancy Goodman, CEO of Kids v
Cancer stated, "One of the greatest challenges of pediatric cancer
research has been a lack of access to novel and exciting drugs.
Although cancer research has undergone some quantum leaps in the
past years, the new and exciting treatments for adults with cancer
rarely translate into new treatments for children. As a result,
kids with cancer get outdated treatments that are often forty years
old."
"Cancer is the #1 disease killer of children in the United States. Each year, 15,000 children
are diagnosed with cancer, and even the survivors face the risk of
shortened lives, permanent disabilities, and serious chronic
diseases as a result of their cancer and treatment."
"The RACE for Children Act will bring new drugs to children with
cancer by modifying the Pediatric Research Equity Act and requiring
that every novel drug developed for an adult cancer be considered
for development for children when the molecular target of the drug
is relevant to a pediatric cancer."
"In addition, the RACE for Children Act will result in tens of
millions of new research dollars flowing into pediatric cancer
clinical research as drug companies undertake these new pediatric
studies."
"The RACE for Children Act authorizes the FDA to require
companies developing cancer drugs to also develop their drugs for
children if the molecular target of the drugs under development are
relevant to a pediatric cancer. "(See
www.kidsvcancer.org/race-for-children-act)
The RACE for Children Act is Title V of the FDA Reauthorization
Act, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, is
now law.
"Kids v Cancer began championing the RACE for Children Act in
2013 as a grassroots effort of 250 medical research institutions
and pediatric cancer advocacy groups to bring the most exciting new
cancer drugs to children with cancer. "
Kids v Cancer is a nonprofit dedicated to changing the landscape
of pediatric cancer researcher. Nancy
Goodman founded Kids v Cancer when her 10 year old son,
Jacob, died of a pediatric brain cancer after receiving treatments
that were 40 years old. (See www.kidsvcancer.org).
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SOURCE Kids v Cancer