House Again Takes Up Right-to-Try; 4 Ex-FDA Heads Oppose

As House Republicans prepare to advance a right-to-try bill through the Rules Committee process, four former FDA commissioners have issued a brief joint statement opposing the measure. Issued by ex-FDA heads Robert Califf, Margaret Hamburg, Mark McClellan and Andrew von Eschenbach, the statement read: “We as former FDA commissioners oppose both the House and Senate “right to try” legislative proposals. There is no evidence that either bill would meaningfully improve access for patients, but both would remove the FDA from the process and create a dangerous precedent that would erode protections for vulnerable patients.”

A right-to-try bill has already passed the Senate. Last week, the House failed to pass the legislation by not reaching a two-thirds majority floor vote amid intense opposition from Democrats (see earlier story). This week, Republicans will seek approval through the Rules Committee process, which only requires a simple majority vote.