Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Tina Smith (Minn.) are reintroducing laws geared toward strengthening U.S. pharmaceutical provide chains, warning the U.S. is overly counting on different international locations for medicines.
The Pharmaceutical Provide Chain Protection and Enhancement Act was first launched in 2020, not lengthy after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The invoice was spurred by considerations over the U.S.’s pharmaceutical provide chain resilience.
The provisions of the invoice embody:
Requiring the pinnacle of the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Secretary of Protection to place collectively an inventory of what the payments calls “critical drugs,” these which can be deemed important for public well being and nationwide safety.
$1 billion to the Biomedical Superior Analysis and Improvement Authority (BARDA) yearly for 5 years to reinforce the nationwide manufacturing capability of “critical drugs” and decrease home manufacturing prices.
Requiring the Division of Protection, Veterans Affairs, Division of Well being and Human Providers and Federal Bureau of Prisons to buy American-made medicine and offering the mandatory funding to purchase mentioned medicine.
Moreover, the laws would additionally require drugmakers to supply an annual report back to the FDA relating to the supply of their pharmaceutical components used for merchandise bought within the U.S. The Federal Commerce Fee would even be ordered to provide a report on the impacts of overseas funding in the USA’ pharmaceutical trade, in session with the Division of Commerce.
“A strong, reliable supply chain for life-saving drugs will prevent shortages and protect American families,” Warren mentioned in an announcement. “This bill will end our overreliance on foreign countries and give us the tools we need to produce the critical drugs that millions of Americans depend on here at home.”
Smith mentioned the necessity to tackle provide chain vulnerabilities is a “matter of public health and national security.”
“I’m glad to work with Senator Warren on this bill that strengthens our country’s capacity to manufacture critical drugs on U.S. soil and closes gaps in our supply chain,” added Smith. “This will help lessen our over-reliance on other countries and make sure Americans can get the drugs they need.”
The U.S.’s personal home provide chain suffered a extreme blow earlier this yr when Hurricane Helene quickly shut down a North Carolina facility that provided nearly all of intravenous options used within the U.S. The shutdown compromised 1000’s of sufferers’ care and led to the FDA approving short-term imports of IV options from overseas.
