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Alzheimer's Association lauds enactment of the Food and Drug Administration Bill

Alzheimer's Association lauds enactment of the Food and Drug Administration Bill
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July 9, 2012
Email: media@alz.org
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Alzheimer's Association lauds enactment of the Food and Drug Administration Bill

As the leading care, research and advocacy organization for Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association applauds President Obama for signing the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (S. 3187). With strong bipartisan support, Congress recently passed this legislation that will help millions of individuals with chronic conditions, including Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, the bill includes language that strengthens the pathway by which much needed treatments are developed for those who need it most.

Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and this could grow to as many as 16 million by midcentury without effective treatments and interventions that change the course of the disease. The Alzheimer's Association remains a strong proponent of supporting all endeavors that help to ensure the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the resources it needs to expedite the drug review process for life-threatening diseases.

"Beyond the untold human devastation of Alzheimer's, the economic costs to the nation of the disease are profound," said Robert Egge, vice president of public policy for the Alzheimer's Association. "A drug review process that carefully weighs the benefits and risks of new treatments and is more streamlined is a more effective vehicle for reducing the devastating personal toll on individuals and the financial toll on the nation's health care system."

A disease-modifying or preventative therapy for Alzheimer's could save millions of lives and has the potential to save billions of dollars in health care costs. According to the Alzheimer's Association report Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer's Disease: A National Imperative, if a treatment became available in 2015 that delayed onset of Alzheimer's by five years, savings would be seen almost immediately with Medicare and Medicaid spending reduced by $42 billion in 2020. Exploring all avenues to accelerate the drug review process without compromising scientific rigor of the process remains an important priority for the Association.

The Alzheimer's Association stands with millions of Alzheimer's families in praising Congress for passing this legislation and the President for signing the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act into law.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

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