Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) is urging Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of the Health and Human Services (HHS) officials to provide plans addressing COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.
McCaul recently sought feedback from FDA Commissioner Stephan Hahn and HHS Secretary Alex Azar on measures being taken by the agencies to approve, manufacture and distribute responses to the pandemic.
“Life-saving treatments and vaccines are critical as we see an increase in COVID-19 cases and fatalities,” McCaul, lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said. “There are many potential treatments and vaccines currently in development – including one from Gilead Sciences that is in a Phase III trial. We must not waste a moment longer than is necessary to put potential treatments and vaccines in the hands of the American people. By sufficiently supplying our healthcare industry’s arsenal to combat this deadly virus and utilizing public-private partnerships, we could save lives.”
McCaul advocates utilizing new and existing funding and authorities to approve, manufacture, and roll out new treatments while supporting efforts to fast-tracking manufacturing approval.