Top senators are hoping they can reach an elusive agreement and pass major legislation to speed up the delivery of new cures after lawmakers return to work next week.

The legislation, which would be the companion to the House’s 21^st Century Cures Act, which passed last year, has been stalled in the Senate over major disagreements over funding for the National Institutes of Health. However, aides familiar with the negotiations say lawmakers are optimistic about reaching an agreement to pass the legislation in September.