Reinvigorating Antibiotics and Diagnostic Innovation (READI) Act

The Reinvigorating Antibiotics and Diagnostic Innovation (READI) Act (H.R. 1840) is a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA). The bill would give a tax credit to organizations that create new antibiotics and "rapid diagnostic tests"[1] that treat serious or life-threatening infections.[2]

Reinvigorating Antibiotics and Diagnostic Innovation (READI) Act
Full titleTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for clinical testing expenses for qualified infectious disease drugs and rapid diagnostic tests.
Introduced in115th United States Congress
Introduced onMarch 30, 2017
Sponsored byErik Paulsen (R-MN)
Number of co-sponsors5
Legislative history

According to Politico, "To encourage research and development, the bill would provide a new 50 percent tax credit for the clinical testing expenses of new antibiotics that treat serious or life-threatening infections and rapid infectious disease diagnostic tests."[3]

According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the legislation's tax credit is modeled after the credit offered under the Orphan Drug Act for treatments of rare diseases.[1]

Paulsen is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.[4]

Background

Reports published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports have shown that approximately two million people in the United States suffered from antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year. Around 23,000 people die from it each year in the U.S.[2]

According to Paulsen, more people are getting infections that existing drugs cannot treat. As a result, patients often stay in the hospital for a long time and need expensive treatments.[4]

Legislative history

H.R. 1840 was introduced on March, 30, 2017 and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.[5]

It is possible that Paulsen and Thompson could try to attach the legislation to the FDA's user fee reauthorization bill, or to a larger tax reform bill.[3]

Support and opposition

The Infectious Disease Society of America and the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at San Francisco General Hospital support the bill.[4]

See also

References
  1. "READI Act offers incentives for new antibiotics, rapid diagnostics". Healio. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  2. "Infectious Diseases Society of America supports Paulsen, Thompson antibiotic incentives bill". Homeland Preparedness News. 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  3. Karlin-Smith, Sarah (2017-04-03). "FDA nominee goes before Senate Committee". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  4. "Paulsen, Thompson Introduce Legislation to Encourage Research for Antibiotics Treatments". U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  5. "All Actions H.R.1840 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
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