UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Applauds Passing of 21st Century Cures Act – A Much-Needed Boost in the Goal to Develop an Alzheimer’s Cure by 2025

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WASHINGTON, DC—Following the passing of the 21st Century Cures Act by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s applauds the bipartisan action by Congress to hasten and strengthen the nation’s abilities to develop, test and deliver game-changing therapies for diseases and illnesses that cripple families.

The legislation, which will now go before President Obama, aims to provide a significant boost for biomedical research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will help streamline the nation’s clinical trial system and improve the nation’s capacity to evaluate and approve much-needed drugs.

The bill includes language from the EUREKA Act, which will deploy prize competitions to address the major scientific impediments getting in the way of the life-changing research needed to improve care and support for people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. In addition, it includes funding for the BRAIN Initiative, which will help researchers unearth new knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease.

“We have been pleased to see continued commitment to advancing Alzheimer’s research through the BRAIN initiative. We look forward to working with the NIH to realize this promise,” said UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Co-Founder and Chairman George Vradenburg. “We also applaud the continued commitment to patient-focused drug development, and we intend to bring the voice of the Alzheimer’s patient to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to Medicare.”

Alzheimer’s disease, which cannot be prevented, slowed or stopped, is the nation’s costliest disease and it is expected to triple by 2050. Despite the great urgency for a treatment or cure, there has been nearly a 99 percent failure rate for Alzheimer’s drugs in late-stage clinical trials and not a single novel drug has been approved by the FDA since 2003. In the effort to find the next viable treatment, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s calls upon the newly elected Administration and Congress to double down on these legislative actions and make Alzheimer’s the priority it needs to be.

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s is especially grateful for the work of U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), champions of the bill who helped marshal it forward and ensure robust bipartisan support.

“Alzheimer’s is a complex disease requiring a complex solution, and we must continue to reward the innovative thinking that will take us closer to a cure,” Vradenburg said. “We thank our leaders in Congress in finding consensus and ensuring that curing disease isn’t a Republican or Democrat cause, but an issue of national importance for all Americans.”

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UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2) is an innovative non-profit organization demanding – and delivering – a solution to Alzheimer’s. Driven by the suffering of millions of families, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s presses for greater urgency from government, industry and the scientific community in the quest for an Alzheimer's cure – accomplishing this through effective leadership, collaborative advocacy, and strategic investments.

Founded in 2010, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s has worked across sectors to: (1) secure the national goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s by 2025 and help secure nearly $500 million in additional public funding for Alzheimer’s research over the past few years; (2) drive global efforts that resulted in the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations, the G7 group, to embrace a similar 2025 goal and to call for greater levels of research investment and collaboration; and (3) forge industry commitments to improve efficiencies for an expedited drug discovery and approval process.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim Tassa
Phone: 202-263-2580
Email: [email protected]