H.R. 3873: Knock Out Cancer Act

The proposed bill, known as the Knock Out Cancer Act, aims to boost funding for cancer research conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Here’s an overview of what the bill entails:

Key Findings

The bill outlines several findings related to cancer, including:

• Cancer is a major cause of death globally, affecting nearly everyone in some way.
• In the U.S., cancer accounts for about 1 in every 4 deaths, with over 15 million lives lost since the year 2000.
• Improving awareness of cancer symptoms could lead to earlier detection and better survival rates.
• Scientific advancements and research can lead to new treatments and cures for cancer.
• The NCI has played a crucial role in developing effective cancer therapies.
• To effectively address cancer mortality rates, it is proposed that funding for cancer research could potentially triple.

Increased Funding

The bill proposes that, for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2030, the federal government will appropriate funds to the NCI amounting to 25% of the total budget allocated to the NCI for the fiscal year 2022. This funding is intended to support cancer research and will remain available until fully spent. This funding would be in addition to other amounts already designated for the NCI.

Study on Cancer Drug Shortages

The bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to conduct a study to identify the causes of shortages in cancer drugs. The study will focus on:

• Economic factors contributing to shortages.
• Failures in the supply chain.
• Delays in the development and approval processes for cancer drugs by the FDA.
• The lack of sufficient generic drugs and biosimilar products.

Report to Congress

Following the study, the Secretary is required to compile a report on the findings and submit it to Congress no later than one year after the enactment of the Act. This report will include recommendations to address the identified reasons for drug shortages.

Relevant Companies

• NVS (Novartis AG) - A significant player in the oncology drug market, Novartis may be directly affected by changes in funding for cancer research and potential increased scrutiny on drug shortages.
• PFE (Pfizer Inc.) - Pfizer is involved in the development of cancer therapies, and increased funding for cancer research could affect its operations and strategies in this field.
• BMY (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) - As a company focused on oncology, it may see changes in market conditions related to cancer treatments as a result of the bill.