In the coming weeks, Congress has an opportunity to pass legislation that is intended to improve the lives of millions of patients. The time is at hand for Congress to renew the law creating the FDA prescription drug user fee program, known as “PDUFA.” The reauthorization of this law, which is referred to as PDUFA VII, will help ensure the continued funding of the FDA’s product review activities that enable the approval of the next generation of medicines. Chief among the Marylanders who stand to benefit from PDUFA VII are patients who need new treatments, as well as those employed in our state’s burgeoning life science sector who work at the FDA, biotechnology companies and government-supported labs.
