Committee Approves “Right to Try” Act

A state house committee has approved a two-bill package that would give terminally ill patients the right to try drugs that have only gone through the first phase of FDA testing. The measure would create what is called the Right to Try Act. It allows those individuals who have terminal illnesses to have access to clinical trial drugs. Prescribing doctors and manufacturers would be immune from liability under the proposal. Sponsors note that terminal patients who are eligible under the measure should be allowed to try phase one drugs because it takes years for drugs to go through all the stages of FDA testing. The bills now go to the full house for consideration.