Resources to Help Practices, Patients Understand New Right-to-Try Legislation

Jul 17, 2018

With Congress having recently passed federal “right-to-try” (RTT) legislation, ASCO has developed a suite of educational resources that will help members understand the impact of this law on cancer care and individuals with cancer.

Podcast

A recent ASCO in Action Podcast focuses on the right-to-try issue and features ASCO Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FASCO, FSCT. The podcast, hosted by ASCO CEO Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO, examines RTT legislation and explains the difference between RTT and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) expanded access program.

In addition to discussing the lack of patient protections under RTT measures, Dr. Schilsky points out that the term itself is a bit of a misnomer that gives a sense of false hope. “Right-to-try is a catchy phrase,” he said, “but it doesn’t actually provide patients with the right to try anything. It provides patients with the right to ask for a drug.”

Listen to the full discussion on asco.org/podcasts (select the ASCO in Action Podcast), or through iTunes and Google Play.

Issue Brief

The ASCO in Action Brief: Right-to-Try and Expanded Access to Investigational Drugs provides a comprehensive explanation of RTT legislation and is designed to help ASCO members gain a clearer understanding of the impact of the newly passed federal law on patients with cancer and oncology practices in the United States. It underscores ASCO’s strong support for expanded access to investigational therapies outside of clinical trials in a framework that maintains critical FDA patient safeguards. 

The brief also points to resources aimed at facilitating conversations between health care providers and patients on options to access investigational treatments outside of clinical trials, including Cancer.Net, ASCO’s patient information website, and the Reagan-Udall Expanded Access Navigator.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Right-to-Try and Expanded Access to Investigational Therapies

ASCO’s FAQ document is a resource that physicians can share with patients who may have questions about accessing investigational therapies outside of a clinical trial either under right-to-try laws or through the FDA’s expanded access program.

Visit ASCO in Action for the latest on right-to-try legislation and other state and federal cancer policy priorities. 


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