National Brain Tumor Society Applauds Passage of 21st Century Cures Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), the largest nonprofit dedicated to the brain-tumor community in the U.S., applauded the recent passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the 21st Century Cures Act, legislation that will help accelerate the development of new cancer treatments.
“The 21st Century Cures Act is a critical piece of bipartisan legislation for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are currently living with a primary brain tumor and their families, as the bill contains a number of provisions that can jump-start new treatments for brain tumors and many other cancers while also optimizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval process,” said Sally Davis, CEO of the National Brain Tumor Society. “NBTS thanks the bill’s sponsors, Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), for their leadership in passing this important legislation.”
Support for the 21st Century Cures Act was a focus of a recent advocacy day organized by NBTS which brought to Capitol Hill more than 200 brain-tumor advocates from 38 states to educate members and staff on the critical issues currently facing the brain-tumor community.
“Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act was a priority for NBTS because the bill will enable innovation in clinical trial design, help expand access to investigational medicine, and invests in medical research,” said David Arons, chief public policy and advocacy officer, for the National Brain Tumor Society.
Added Davis, “the legislation is a significant step forward for advancing our efforts to deliver new and effective treatments and ultimately a cure to brain tumors.”
Nearly 700,000 Americans, including 28,000 children, are currently living with a primary brain tumor, and an estimated 14,000 people will die because of a primary, malignant brain tumor this year. More than any other cancer, a brain tumor can have life-altering psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and physical effects. There are no known prevention or early detection methods, and there is no cure. Further, pediatric brain tumors are the most prevalent form of cancer in children and young adults under the age of 19, and the leading cause of death by disease in children under 14.
The mission of NBTS is to create systemic change in the way that brain-tumor treatments are researched, developed, tested, and approved to accelerate scientific discoveries toward new and effective therapies.
