This week, the ATS joined the American Academy of Pediatrics and several other medical organizations in a letter supporting the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2023 (H.R. 6664) – a bill intended to expand research for the development of pediatric drugs.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), would strengthen the existing Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA). The BPCA and PREA foster pediatric drug studies. PREA directs certain new drugs to be studied in children. BPCA provides an incentive to marketing of such new drugs. As outlined in the coalition letter, “… the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2023would do three critical things to improve BPCA and PREA: increase the number of rare disease drugs studied in children, ensure that required PREA studies get completed, and give the NIH BPCA program its first funding increase in 22 years.”

“As a pediatrician, I appreciate that ATS has chosen to support the Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act of 2023, said Stuart Sweet MD – Chair of the ATS Health Policy Committee.   “The legislation’s proposed changes to the PREA and BPCA will take important steps toward ensuring that children, particularly those with rare diseases, don’t get left behind when new drugs are developed.”