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You did it! ADVOCACY Update!



You did it!

Thanks to YOU, our Lupus Foundation of America activists, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act today, legislation that has the potential to improve the drug development process and bring new and vital treatments forward for people with chronic diseases like lupus. Lupus activists sent thousands of letters to members of Congress asking them to support to bill and the efforts paid off.

Only one drug has ever been developed specifically to treat lupus and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For the estimated 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide living with a form of lupus, one drug will never be enough to treat this cruel and mysterious disease. 

The 21st Century Cures Act, spearheaded by Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), provides an additional $8.75 billion in funding to the National Institutes of Health; establishes a public-private partnership to collect data and improve our understanding of diseases; supports patient-focused drug development; and modernizes the design of clinical trials and their review process. 

This is only the first step. The action now moves to the Senate with their version of the initiative, the Innovation for Healthier Americans. The Lupus Foundation of America will continue to work with Congress to convey the need for robust funding for lupus research and development of new lupus drugs. Keep up the great work and stay connected with us.  


Home > News & Stories > General News > U.S. House of Representatives Passes 21st Century Cures Act
JUL. 10, 2015

U.S. House of Representatives Passes 21st Century Cures Act

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act, legislation that has the potential to improve the drug development process and bring new and vital treatments forward for people with chronic diseases like lupus.
Only one drug has ever been developed specifically to treat lupus and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For the estimated 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide living with a form of lupus, one drug will never be enough to treat this cruel and mysterious disease. 
The 21st Century Cures Act, spearheaded by Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), provides an additional $8.75 billion in funding to the National Institutes of Health; establishes a public-private partnership to collect data and improve our understanding of diseases; supports patient-focused drug development; and modernizes the design of clinical trials and their review process.
Lupus Foundation of America activists played a vital role in the passage of this legislation. Last month, as part of the Foundation’s National Lupus Advocacy Summit, nearly 200 lupus activists from across the country visited Capitol Hill in June and thousands more joined them virtually to urge members of Congress to support the bill.
Following the Summit, the Foundation hosted a conversation about the legislation during our National Advocacy Awards Dinner featuring Congressman Upton; Dr. Francis S. Collins, National Institutes of Health Director; Mary Woolley, President & Chief Executive Officer of Research!America; John J. Castellani, President & Chief Executive Officer Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; and Dr. Susan M. Manzi, Chair, Department of Medicine Allegheny Health Network. We also honored Congressman Upton with the Foundation’s Congressional Champion Award.
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