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Groups funded by Charles and David Koch have launched ad campaigns aimed at urging Congress to pass legislation that would make it easier for terminally ill patients to try experimental treatments. The bill passed the Senate unanimously, but FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told the House in October (archive) that the FDA already approves 99% of requests for expanded access/compassionate use, and that the primary roadblock is not the FDA, but drug supply constraints. He said that pharmaceutical companies do not continuously manufacture a drug undergoing clinical trials, but instead produce "discontinuous batches":
Several deep-pocketed political advocacy groups founded by Charles and David Koch are ramping up their advocacy before Congress on a niche issue: access to experimental drugs.
On Monday, several Koch-backed groups, including Freedom Partners and Americans for Prosperity, launched an ad campaign urging Congress to pass so-called "right-to-try" legislation, which aims to help terminally ill patients access experimental treatments that haven't yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Senate unanimously passed a right-to-try bill from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) last August, but it has since stalled in the House. Supporters, including lawmakers on Capitol Hill and other off-the-Hill advocates, are focusing their efforts this month on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which would likely have to clear the legislation before the full House could vote on it.
The new ad campaign — also sponsored by Generation Opportunity and The LIBRE Initiative — directly addresses Congress, saying at the end of one commercial, "Congress, give patients a chance. Pass right to try." In addition to a series of digital ads focused on D.C. and key congressional districts, the campaign will include lobbying efforts by the groups, according to a press release. In a letter sent Monday to Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), executives wrote, "We strongly urge your committee to act expeditiously to approve Right to Try legislation and send the bill to the House Floor for a full vote."
Johnson told STAT he's doing everything he can this month to get the legislation passed, and suggested the vice president might become even more engaged. Vice President Mike Pence has supported right-to-try efforts since he signed a similar law as governor of Indiana.
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(Score: 2, Funny) by Justin Case on Wednesday January 10 2018, @12:36AM (9 children)
1. Money is bad.
2. Kochs have money.
Therefore: Kochs are bad.
3. "Right-to-try" is backed by Kochs.
Therefore: "right-to-try" is bad.
No point discussing the actual pros and cons of the actual issues when the logic is this straightforward and simple.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Wednesday January 10 2018, @12:44AM
Ok, so "Evil-Backed Groups Urge Congress to Pass 'Right to Try' Legislation". But does that mean the legislation is evil? Not necessarily.
It does look like it's unnecessary. This is an area where you would expect Gottlieb (evil?) to be supportive since he wants drug development to move faster. But he's just "meh".
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 10 2018, @01:04AM (1 child)
How in the world does the Federal Government have the authority to forbid individuals from trying such treatments, anyway?
It makes no sense.
(Score: 2) by Pino P on Wednesday January 10 2018, @03:23PM
The opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States in Lopez v. Gonzales, 549 U.S. 47 [wikipedia.org], explains the reasoning.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by NewNic on Wednesday January 10 2018, @01:06AM
Be realistic: for the most part, the people offering these treatments are going to be snake-oil salesmen.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 5, Informative) by bob_super on Wednesday January 10 2018, @01:47AM (2 children)
Wrong way to read it. The Kochs consistently do "bad" things with their money.
The problem isn't the money itself being bad, it's specifically how they optimize getting more of it at people's expense, and how they use it for Fuck-You causes.
I can't say I understand how these kinds of people just go to their very comfy bed every night knowing that so many people just plain associate their family name with being evil. I know money numbs you, and "they're just jealous" probably helps... But many people are not jealous, just plain appalled.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 10 2018, @06:34AM
Life is a game to get the most and be remembered the longest. Those other guys are just upset they suck at it. They're too weak to ever be important thus they don't matter anyway.
(Score: 2) by ilsa on Wednesday January 10 2018, @08:57PM
I would guess that it's because they dehumanize the people below them and consider them inconsequential. After all, if they amounted to anything, they'd already be rich, right?
(Score: 5, Funny) by aristarchus on Wednesday January 10 2018, @02:33AM (1 child)
Your syllogism is flawed:
1. Kochs are bad.
2 Kochs have Money.
Sub-conclusion one: Therefore: Money is the source of all evil.
Further premise: "Right-to-try" is backed by Kochs.
Further axiom: Whatever is backed by the Kochs cannot be good.
Summa cum Loudly Conclusion: Therefore: "right-to-try" is bad.
Corrolary: When rich people try to do medicine, they are either facing the insignificance of their puny lives in the face of their impending demise. Or, they stand to make a shitload of money.
Nota Bene: I expect khallow will be along shortly to toady up and defend the richies. After all, what wrong have they done, besides be successful? Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, bro!
Quod erat Demonstrandum, with flourishes.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday January 10 2018, @02:50PM
Clocking in! So defend the richies from what? Shouldn't there be some sort of attack on them in the first place? Yea, we get Koch brothers bad. Not feeling the care.
Insignificance is relative. The insignificance of that is far less than the insignificance of posting drivel. And such things have the potential for far reaching changes to the cosmos too (simply because life and the things it can create have this potential). So it may not be as insignificant as it appears to you. I'm not holding my breath for cosmic significance, but odds are better with supporting medical discoveries.