U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on March 10 introduced a bipartisan bill to support the advanced manufacturing technologies program of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure America increases homeland pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Sen. Blackburn sponsored the Securing America’s Medicine Cabinet (SAM-C) Act, S. 3432, with lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to increase U.S. manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), the building blocks of prescription drugs, according to the senator’s office, which noted that just 28 percent of API-producing facilities are American-based.
“Currently, we are too reliant on foreign manufacturing of critical APIs,” Sen. Blackburn said. “The SAM-C Act is one step on the right path to strengthen our drug supply chain.”
If enacted, S. 3432 would expand upon the FDA’s Emerging Technology Program and authorize $100 million to develop centers of excellence in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing to develop new drugs and train the needed workforce. The centers would be partnerships between institutes of learning and the private sector, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Blackburn’s office.
“When confronted with a serious challenge such as the coronavirus, it is important to take stock, look at lessons learned, and build upon them in order to respond better the next time,” Sen. Blackburn said.
Sen. Menendez added that S. 3432 will encourage drug manufacturers “to partner with our best minds in higher education on new advancements, creating good jobs and increasing the national production of vaccines and drugs that can save lives.”
The measure is also cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) and has been referred to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.