Cures Acceleration Network and the Valley of Death
Cecilia Arradaza
forum that spotlighted the Cures Acceleration Network (CAN) provision
of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law
March 23, 2010.
CAN, as authorized, will be established within the Office of the
Director of National Institutes of Health (NIH) and would award grants
through NIH to biotech companies, universities, and patient advocacy
groups. Details of this provision include:
- CAN is designed to accelerate the development of high need cures,
including through the development of medical products and behavioral
therapies. “Medical product” in this context means a drug, device,
biological product, or any combination of the three.
- A diverse, 24-person board will be convened to advise the Director
of the NIH on the conduct of the activities of the CAN. This board
will represent multiple sectors including at least four individuals
from the venture capital community and at least eight patient
advocates.
- CAN is subject to the appropriation of funds.
John Myers, Senior Health and Science Policy Adviser to Sen. Arlen
Specter (D-PA), encouraged patient advocacy groups to stay involved
throughout the appropriations process already underway and build on
the momentum of the health reform law, to ensure the potential of the
CAN provision is realized.
If you have specific questions about CAN, action items, or additional
information you'd like to have, post them in this discussion thread.
We will engage Amy Rick and John Schall of PAN to help answer your
questions.