BRIEF—Right to try bill stalled indefinitely in Congress

After previously dashed hopes for a proposed ’right to try’ bill were resurrected in late March, the legislative process has reportedly now ground to a halt, leaving supporters of the concept, including the White House, with few options.

The measures would enable terminally ill patients in the USA to gain access to unapproved drug candidates. While versions of the bill have passed in the Senate and the House, press reports suggest that efforts to reconcile the two documents have not been successful.

Some groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, objected to the bill on the grounds that it would mean the FDA could not fulfil its role in providing “consultation on dosing, route of administration, dosing schedule and other important safety measures.”