House passes 21st Century Cures bill

Members of U.S. House of Representatives voted 344 to 77 today to approve the 21st Century Cures bill. It now goes to the Senate for consideration. Supporters like it because it provides more funds for the FDA and NIH. It has detractors, however, who are concerned about provisions that change the way drugs and devices are developed and approved. For example, it allows for the approval of antibiotics based on preclinical testing combined with limited human trials. It offers a faster pathway for approval but worries some that not enough safeguards will be in place. The bill also dumps some of the requirements drugmakers have for reporting physician payments, which also concerns some lawmakers. More from FierceBiotech