Adding Zika Virus to the Fda Priority Review Voucher Program Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2512 to add the Zika virus to the list of tropical diseases under the FDA Priority Review Voucher program for tropical diseases.

While evidence of human infection by the Zika virus has been reported for over 60 years, there has been little progress in the development of treatment or vaccines. Existing incentives have been insufficient to encourage development of new and innovative treatments for the virus.

However, with the recent spread of the virus from South America to the Caribbean and North America, the level of infection has reached pandemic levels. Although the Zika virus may be rare in the United States, the increase of airline transportation, immigration, and tourism only creates an environment for the Zika virus to be easily transmitted.

S. 2512 would allow the FDA Priority Review Voucher program to work exactly as intended. It would add the Zika virus to the list of tropical diseases that are available under the voucher program.

This bill would ultimately accomplish two goals. First, it would provide an incentive for drug developers in the form of fast-track approval of therapies to treat the Zika virus.

Second, it would create an avenue where treatments for the virus would get to patients quicker and ultimately end this pandemic outbreak.

This legislation is vital to ensuring the health and safety of our Nation. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

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