Doctors’ groups oppose bill to give patients ‘right-to-try’

(Harrisburg) — A proposal awaiting a vote in the state Senate would give patients with terminal illnesses the “right-to-try” medications not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Supporters say the lengthy evaluation process could be keeping effective treatment from people who need it, but associations representing doctors who treat cancer oppose the measure.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Pennsylvania Society of Oncology and Hematology (PSOH) say right-to-try laws around the country are ineffective and threaten the safety of patients.

Dr. Marilyn Heine, Legislative Chair of PSOH, says the legislation does nothing to break down the barriers patients face to getting experimental drugs from the manufacturers.

“They have maybe a small allotment of this medication, it’s investigational, they want to go through clinical trials. So it may be giving these patients false hope,” Heine says. 

Heine adds insurers are not required to cover investigative treatments or complications that arise from them.

The organizations prefers patients attempt to try experimental drugs through the FDA’s expanded access program, which was recently streamlined to respond faster.