[LindaH]

There is something we can all do
PAN sent out this Action Alert yesterday:

"Contact your Senators today to support legislation to accelerate
drug and treatment approvals.

Earlier this week, Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) introduced Senate Bill 2113, the Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments (TREAT) Act.

The Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) supports this bill, a positive step in the effort to ensure the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has at its disposal the necessary tools and resources to get safe and effective therapies more quickly to patients who need them.

As you know, current, state-of-the-art treatment for Parkinson's is based on a 40-year-old pharmaceutical therapy, that only treats some symptoms of the disease. No therapies exist that will slow or halt its progression. In addition, central nervous system drugs, including therapies for Parkinson's disease, often take the greatest amount of time and research dollars to bring to market.

This bill is intended to streamline and enhance the approval process to ensure people with Parkinson's and other chronic diseases have quicker access to safe and effective therapies.

Please ask your Senators to co-sponsor S. 2113, the Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments (TREAT) Act. "

See PAN website for more information and to send an email to your Senator.
http://www.parkinsonsaction.org/news...support-s-2113

[rc4less]

Do you have a link to the text of the bill? Like to read these in advance of contacting our two senators,
Thanks,
Bruce

[wxxu]

Originally Posted by rc4less

Do you have a link to the text of the bill? Like to read these in advance of contacting our two senators,
Thanks,
Bruce

Please note I received the following reply from my Senator Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania -

March 2, 2012

Thank you for contacting me about the Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments (TREAT) Act (S. 2113). I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) introduced S. 2113 on February 15, 2012. Among its provisions, this measure would empower the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enhance their accelerated approval process for medical treatments. I understand your concern regarding the length of time the FDA currently takes to review drugs that treat serious or life-threatening conditions. S. 2113 is currently pending before the Senate Committee on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for review. While I am not a member of this panel, please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as work continues on this issue.

Thank you again for your correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,


Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

[LindaH]

Originally Posted by rc4less

Do you have a link to the text of the bill? Like to read these in advance of contacting our two senators,
Thanks,
Bruce

Sorry i'm so late responding to this question - i was away for most of last week and just catching up now. And you might already have the link, but if not , you can find the text of "Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments" or `TREAT Act'. (S.2113) at:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.2113:

Also check the PAN website for updated information.
parkinsonsaction.org

linda