Fischer Joins Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act

WASHINGTON, DC. - U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) recently cosponsored the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Act. This bipartisan legislation would create the infrastructure necessary to fund early access to promising investigational therapies for patients suffering from ALS and other fast-progressing rare neurodegenerative and terminal diseases. It would authorize $100 million annually to implement these priorities. The bill was introduced by Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

"ALS is a heartbreaking disease and unfortunately right now, far too few patients are able to access treatments to slow its progression. This bipartisan bill would help address that problem by bolstering research and development of new treatments. Let's get this passed so we can help those suffering from ALS and eventually find a cure," said Senator Fischer.

"ALS is a devasting disease. There are currently no effective treatments and it's 100% fatal. My father, Mark Lambrecht, passed away just 1 year after his ALS diagnosis. It was unbearable watching him lose his independence and wither away; unable to breathe without a ventilator, unable to swallow, talk, and eventually stand and walk on his own. He was denied access to groundbreaking clinical trials just like 80% of those suffering with ALS. The ACT for ALS will help patients, like my father, get access to potentially life-changing treatments that are stuck in clinical trials. It will offer hope to those in a truly hopeless situation. My family and I are incredibly grateful to have the support of Senator Deb Fischer on this issue. We look forward to seeing this bill go to a vote and pass before year's end," said Laura Lambrecht of Omaha.

BACKGROUND: ALS affects 1 in 300 people, often leaving patients with no more than three years to live following their diagnosis. ACT for ALS authorizes new grants to support expanded access and research programs. ALS also disproportionately impacts U.S. military service members. This expansion will bring investigational treatments for rapidly progressing diseases beyond their ongoing clinical trials to patients with diseases for which effective therapies don't already exist and allow for additional research into the effectiveness of those interventions. It also creates a new FDA Rare Neurodegenerative Disease Grant Program to support other research and development on ALS and other life-threatening or severely debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.

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