AACR Applauds Reauthorization of FDA Safety and Innovation Act

Law will allow the FDA to use innovative approaches to provide lifesaving treatments and cures.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Underscoring the vital and important role of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in advancing progress in cancer, the American Association for Cancer Research applauds today’s enactment of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act of 2012.

“The FDA plays a vital role in promoting the science and innovation necessary to ensure that new discoveries truly translate into the medicines people need and count on,” said AACR President Frank McCormick, Ph.D., F.R.S., D.Sc. (hon.). McCormick is also chair of the AACR Task Force on Regulatory Science and Policy, which was established with the goal of supporting FDA efforts to improve and modernize the regulatory process. “This law gives the FDA the resources necessary to integrate advances in science and technology into the regulatory process to keep pace with medical product innovation.”

The timely reauthorization supports continued scientific innovation at the agency and helps to secure the United States’ position as a world leader in utilizing state-of-the-art analytical tools and techniques to answer questions that apply directly to the evaluation of product safety, efficacy and quality. Among many other things, the law also expands the accelerated approval process, promotes pediatric pharmaceutical research, protects patients from drug shortages, and introduces a “Breakthrough Therapies” designation for new therapies that show great benefit in early development.  

“The science underlying new innovations in personalized cancer medicine is expanding at an incredible rate,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR.  “This passage of this new law ensures that the FDA will be more equipped than ever to evaluate the cutting-edge science that leads to new medicines and diagnostics, thereby accelerating patient access to safe and effective treatments.”

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About the AACR

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR’s membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of individual and team science grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.

For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

Media Contact:
Tara Yates
(215) 446-7110
Tara.Yates@aacr.org

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