National Brain Tumor Society Applauds House Passage of 21st Century Cures Act

National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), the largest nonprofit dedicated to the brain tumor community in the United States, applauded today’s passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the 21^st Century Cures Act (H.R.6), legislation that will help accelerate the development of new cancer treatments.

“The 21st Century Cures Act is a critical piece of bipartisan legislation for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are currently living with a primary brain tumor and their families, as the bill contains a number of provisions that can jumpstart new treatments for brain tumors and many other cancers while also optimizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval process,” said Sally Davis, Chief Executive Officer, National Brain Tumor Society. “NBTS thanks the bill’s sponsors, Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), for their leadership in passing this important legislation.”

Support for the 21st Century Cures Act was a focus of a recent advocacy day organized by NBTS which brought to Capitol Hill more than 200 brain tumor advocates from 38 states from across the country to educate members and staff on the critical issues currently facing the brain tumor community.

“Passage of The 21^st Century Cures Act was a priority for NBTS because the bill will enable innovation in clinical trial design, help expand access to investigational medicine, and invests in medical research,” said, David Arons, Chief Public Policy & Advocacy Officer, National Brain Tumor Society.

“The legislation is a significant step forward for advancing our efforts to deliver new and effective treatments and ultimately a cure to brain tumors,” concluded Davis.

Nearly 700,000 Americans are currently living with a primary brain tumor – including 28,000 children – and an estimated 14,000 people will die because of a primary malignant brain tumor this year. More than any other cancer, a brain tumor can have life-altering psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and physical effects. There are no known prevention or early detection methods, and there is no cure. Further, pediatric brain tumors are the most prevalent form of cancer in children and young adults under the age of 19, and the leading cause of death by disease in children under 14. NBTS’s mission is to create systematic change in the way that brain tumors treatments are researched, developed, tested, and approved to accelerate scientific discoveries toward new and effective therapies.

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