17-November-2014

The 21st Century Cures Initiative, an effort driven by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to enact legislation to accelerate cure development in America, could be a "bright spot" for the new GOP-led Congress in 2015, according to some stakeholders. The initiative's bipartisan appeal lends itself passage in a new Congress wanting to demonstrate its ability to make things happen.

An FDA Week article quoted an update written by several members of FaegreBDC's health and biosciences team about the initiative. "One key question will be the scope of the draft legislation and if it can continue to attract bipartisan support," the update said. "One potential scenario could be a two-step process in which a more limited Cures package moves this year, while other reforms are teed up for debate as part of the next user fee package, due in 2017."

Nick Manetto, director in FaegreBDC's health and biosciences team, said that while Senate offices have so far shown interest in Cures-related legislation, one question remains. "Will this catch fire?" he said.

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