Joco Today

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously voted in support of U.S. Senator Roger Marshall's amendment to the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. This amendment would require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to publish a roadmap to guide the pharmaceutical industry in developing innovative non-addictive medicine for the treatment of chronic pain.

Senator Marshall highlighted the lack of innovation in non-opioid drugs in the past 50 years and emphasized the need for a clear framework from the FDA to encourage the development of alternative therapies. He stated, "Pharmaceutical manufacturers rely on the FDA to provide the rules of the road for various therapy classes. Based on those documents, innovators and their investors will decide how to proceed, or not at all."

The senator also pointed out the challenges faced by drug developers in creating innovative pain medication. He cited an industry report that showed a low 2 percent probability of FDA approval from phase 1, compared to the overall 10 percent success rate across all diseases medicines.

In 2018, the SUPPORT Act mandated that the FDA support the development of non-opioid alternatives for pain management. However, the FDA has not fulfilled this requirement, and Senator Marshall emphasized the need to hold the FDA accountable. He stated, "Our job is to hold the FDA accountable."

To address this issue, Senator Marshall's amendment reinforces the requirement for the FDA to publish guidance for non-addictive drugs that treat chronic pain. He highlighted the importance of providing alternatives to long-term opioid use, especially for the 16 million Americans suffering from chronic lower back pain. Senator Marshall stated, "These patients don't want to use opioids, but there's not a lot of other good treatments out there."

The senator believes that encouraging the pharmaceutical industry to take risks and develop innovative solutions is crucial. He expressed his optimism, saying, "I believe American ingenuity will one day make opioids a thing of the past."

By advancing this bill, Senator Marshall aims to combat the fentanyl crisis and improve addiction treatment nationwide. The reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act, with the inclusion of his amendment, will provide a roadmap for the development of non-addictive pain medication. This is a significant step towards addressing the opioid epidemic and ensuring better healthcare options for those suffering from chronic pain.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshall-advances-bill-to-battle-fentanyl-crisis-and-improve-addiction-treatment-nationwide/