IGT Statement on Congressional Funding Package

Today, Congressional leaders released a bipartisan compromise to fund the federal government ahead of the January 30 shutdown deadline. The legislation included several key provisions the Institute for Gene Therapies (IGT) has been long advocating for: a five-year extension of Pediatric Priority Review Vouchers (PRVs) in the Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act. IGT Chairman Congressman Erik Paulsen issued the following statement: 

“We welcome the inclusion of a five-year extension of Pediatric Priority Review Vouchers (PRVs) in the Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act. This bill reinforces U.S. leadership in biomedical innovation while ensuring children with serious and rare genetic diseases are not left waiting for cures already within reach. 

“Gene therapies address disease at its root cause, often with a single, transformative treatment, offering the potential to dramatically reduce long-term health care costs, lifelong disability, and caregiver burden. Policies like Pediatric PRVs help ensure the science can move from the lab to patients faster, and advance timely access for families facing devastating diagnoses. 

“IGT applauds Congressional leaders for recognizing the urgency of aligning innovation, regulation, and payment systems. IGT stands ready to work with lawmakers on a bipartisan basis to advance this proposal and deliver practical solutions that put patients first, strengthen American innovation, and build a more sustainable healthcare system for the future.”