WASHINGTON – Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has cosponsored the Give Kids A Chance Act, a bipartisan bill to provide children access to cutting-edge trials and therapies for cancer. Children facing life-threatening cancers would have new opportunities for cutting-edge treatment under legislation supported by U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley.

“Adults have access to multiple treatments and therapies, but children have been denied that same opportunity. This bipartisan legislation authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to direct drug companies to conduct pediatric cancer trials on combination therapies, ensuring that children with cancer have access to the most effective, life-saving treatments,” said Rep. Kiley.

“We thank Congressman Kiley for his leadership and support of kids with cancer. The Give Kids a Chance Act will create a world in which cures can be found for children with untreatable cancers. Moreover, the Give Kids a Chance Act does not cost California taxpayers a dime. This is just the kind of government support we need to protect our kids. With Representative Kiley’s support, we look forward to asking Congress to pass the Give Kids a Chance Act into law,” said Nancy Goodman, CEO of Kids v Cancer and champion of the Give Kids a Chance Act.

The Give Kids a Chance Act currently has over 180 cosponsors. You can view text of the bill here.

Background:

Many pediatric cancer trials are currently conducted on kids with relapsed cancer. The FDA is only authorized to direct pediatric cancer trials of single drugs. Unfortunately, children with relapsed cancer are rarely cured by one-drug treatments because their cancers are so advanced. Many successful drug combination therapies are now being studied and developed for adults, but not for children. The Give Kids a Chance Act authorizes the FDA to direct companies to study combinations of cancer drugs and therapies in pediatric trials as well.

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