US FDA Gets Wanted Pathogen Program, Manufacturers Get Longer BARDA Contracts In Competing Pandemic Prep Bills

Key House and Senate committees advanced reauthorizations of the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act. It is unclear whether new perks for the FDA and drug makers will survive as the two chambers reconcile a myriad of differences between their plans.

Earth surrounded by various pathogens — The Senate HELP Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced pandemic prep bills 20 July and 19 July, respectively. • Source: Shutterstock

A Senate committee cleared a US Food and Drug Administration-requested pathogen preparedness program 20 July that is intended to help the agency avoid a repeat of the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Emerging Pathogen Preparedness Program Authorization Act, cleared the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on a 12-9...