SENATOR COLLINS INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO FIGHT CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS

In an effort to spur innovation in research and drug development for chronic health conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced bipartisan legislation that would help speed the development of new drugs and therapies. The Spending Reductions through Innovations in Therapies or SPRINT, Act would invest in public-private partnerships to help ensure scientists and researchers are able to develop new, safe and effective drugs and other therapies to combat the most deadly and costly chronic diseases including Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. These diseases are among the leading causes of death in the United States as well as the most costly to taxpayers.

"Alzheimer's and other chronic conditions take a tremendous personal and economic toll on millions of Americans and their families. Moreover, in addition to the human suffering they cause, they pose significant challenges to the fiscal health of our nation," said Senator Collins, who is Senate Co-chair of Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's. "Our legislation is intended to speed the development of therapies to significantly modify, cure, or prevent these high-cost, chronic conditions. A relatively small federal investment today will offer millions of people hope, and it will also offer us an opportunity to control costs."

At a news conference today in the United States Capitol, Senator Collins was joined by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, as well as a cosponsor, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). They were joined by Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) who, along with Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), has introduced similar legislation in the House. Also participating in today's news conference was George Vradenburg, co-founder and chairman of USAgainstAlzheimer's.

"We are at a leadership moment in the Alzheimer's Movement," said George Vradenburg, Co-Founder of USAgainstAlzheimer's and member of the national Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services. "Achieving the national goal of reducing healthcare costs by preventing or effectively treating Alzheimer's by 2025 or earlier requires us to jettison a 'business-as-usual' approach to drug discovery. The SPRINT Bill challenges us to rethink how we can increase the volume and velocity of effective treatments to patients suffering from multiple chronic conditions."

The SPRINT Act compresses the product development timelines and increases the volume of drugs in the development pipeline so that priority is given to the most promising pharmaceuticals. Additionally, it expedites the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review process so that drugs can be brought more quickly to market to the patients who need them.

This bill would authorize $50 million for a public-private program within the Department of Health and Human Services to support advanced research into promising therapies that are most likely to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs for high-cost chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's. This legislation would continue investment through public-private partnerships - requiring that every $1 in federal funds is matched by $2 in private investment so that federal dollars are best spent on market-tested and market-ready drugs. The bill compresses the product development timelines and increases the volume of drugs in the development pipeline so that priority is given to the most promising pharmaceuticals.

In addition to USAgainstAlzheimer's, it is supported by Alzheimer's Association, American Health Assistance Foundation, Alzheimer's Disease Research, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, Alliance for Aging Research, American Geriatric Society, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, Colorado Access, Critical Path Institute, Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer's Initiative, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities, National Family Caregiver's Association, Retire Safe, and Volunteers of America.

"As co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, Senator Collins is a champion among our nation's leaders in her diligent work to move solutions forward in support of individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias," says Laurie Trenholm, Executive Director of the Scarborough-based Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter. "We are grateful to her for once again leading the way as Senate sponsor of the SPRINT Act, which will advance research and spur development of new possible treatments for chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and affects over 37,000 Maine families."