Bipartisan Act would preserve FDA user fees from sequestration
The Pharma & Biopharma Outsourcing Association (PBOA) praises Representatives Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) for introducing the FDA Safety Over Sequestration Act, or FDA SOS Act (H.R. 1078). The Act would exempt privately-paid user fees paid to the FDA from any future sequestration.
PBOA President Gil Roth made the following statement:
“The PBOA commends Representatives Lance and Eshoo for their bipartisan efforts taking the lead on this important issue. User fees comprise nearly half of the FDA’s budget and help the Agency reach performance milestones for regulatory review, thorough and timely inspections, and IT implementation.
"PBOA's members provide the services that help the pharma and biopharma industry develop and manufacture drugs, biologics, vaccines, and other treatments safely and cost effectively. User fees, whether paid by their clients or by them directly, are integral to advancing this mission and ultimately bringing those treatments to patients. While recent budget deals have restored cuts through FY15, the FDA SOS Act would provide a permanent fix and remove the threat and uncertainty that sequestration would create for the Agency.
“We look forward to working with Congress, industry and other stakeholders to address this issue and preserve FDA’s access to the user fees it collects."
For more information on regulatory and legislative issues affecting pharma and biopharma outsourcing providers, please visitwww.pharma-bio.org.