Bill advances to speed up drug and device approval

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday unanimously advanced legislation that would speed up the development of new drugs and devices, sending the bill to the House.

The FDA Reauthorization Act reauthorizes a program in which the FDA collects user fees for each drug and device application and uses that money to hire more staff and speed up approvals. The program must be approved every five years, and the committee advanced the bill to the House by a 54-0 vote.