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[DOCID: f:h3047ih.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3047
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health
Service Act with respect to pediatric studies of drugs, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 4, 2001
Mr. Waxman (for himself, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Deutsch,
Mr. Pallone, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Stupak, and Mr. Barrett of
Wisconsin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health
Service Act with respect to pediatric studies of drugs, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Best Pharmaceuticals for Children
Act''.
SEC. 2. PEDIATRIC STUDIES OF DRUGS.
(a) In General.--Section 505A of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355a) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 505A. PEDIATRIC STUDIES OF DRUGS; COST-PLUS PAYMENTS.
``(a) Required Studies.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of a drug for which a market
application is pending or for which such an application has
been approved, or for which a research exemption has been
granted, if (pursuant to regulations promulgated by the
Secretary) the Secretary requires the sponsor or holder for the
drug (as the case may be) to conduct a pediatric study of the
drug, the Secretary may enter into a contract for payments in
accordance with subsection (d) regarding such study.
``(2) Market application; research exemption.--For purposes
of this section, the term `market application' means an
application under section 505 or under section 351 of the
Public Health Service Act, and the term `research exemption'
means an exemption under section 505(i).
``(3) Dispute resolution.--The Secretary shall develop and
publish in the Federal Register criteria describing the manner
in which the process of dispute resolution under section 562
will be applied with respect to paragraph (1). Such criteria
shall be so published not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act. Any
process of dispute resolution regarding a requirement described
in subsection (a) that was commenced before the publication of
the criteria, including a process commenced before the date of
the enactment of such Act, may continue in accordance with the
applicable terms in effect before the publication of the
criteria.
``(b) Requested Studies.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of a drug that is included
on the list under paragraph (2), the Secretary may award
contracts for payments in accordance with subsection (d) for
the conduct of pediatric studies of the drug.
``(2) List of drugs.--The Secretary shall establish and
maintain a list of drugs--
``(A) for which an approved market application is
in effect;
``(B) for which there is no patent protection, and
for which no period of market exclusivity is in effect
under section 505 or section 527; and
``(C) for which the Secretary has determined that
pediatric studies are needed to assess the safety and
effectiveness of the use of the drug in a pediatric
population.
The initial list under this paragraph shall be established not
later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Best
Pharmaceuticals for Children Act. The reference in subparagraph
(B) to a period of market exclusivity in effect under section
505 includes such a period in effect pursuant to this section
as this section was in effect on the day before such date of
enactment.
``(3) Preference in awarding contracts.--In awarding a
contract under paragraph (1) regarding a drug, the Secretary
shall give preference to one or more of the holders for the
drug (in the event that Secretary has elected not to use the
authority under subsection (a) regarding the drug), to the
extent that one or more holders submit applications for the
contract.
``(4) Application for contract.--A contract may be made
under subsection (a) only if an application for the contract is
submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form,
is made in such manner, and contains such agreements,
assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be
necessary to carry out this subsection.
``(5) Competitive process.--Awards of contracts under
paragraph (1) shall be made through a competitive process, and
applications for such awards shall undergo technical and
scientific peer review. The Secretary may provide for the
assistance of the Director of the National Institutes of Health
in the administration of the requirements of the preceding
sentence.
``(c) Certain Study Procedures.--In providing for pediatric studies
under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary shall in writing (through
publication in the Federal Register or otherwise) specify the criteria
of the Secretary for the conduct of the studies, including with respect
to protocols and including timeframes for completion of the studies and
the submission to the Secretary of reports on the studies.
``(d) Payments.--A contract under subsection (a) or (b)--
``(1) shall provide for reimbursement by the Secretary of
the costs of conducting the pediatric studies involved, upon
the Secretary determining that the applicable conditions under
subsection (c) are being or have been met; and
``(2) shall provide for an amount additional to such
reimbursement (payable once the reimbursement in full has been
made), which additional amount shall be equal to 100 percent of
the costs of conducting such pediatric studies.
``(e) Labeling Changes for Already-Marketed Drugs.--
``(1) Supplemental application; priority.--Not later than
180 days after receiving a report on pediatric studies under
this section, the Secretary shall determine whether a holder
for the drug involved should alter the labeling for the drug.
If the Secretary determines that a labeling change should be
made, the Secretary shall--
``(A) promptly request the holder in writing to
submit to the Secretary a supplemental application for
purposes of making the labeling change;
``(B) consider such application to be a priority
application, except that the Secretary may give greater
priority to such applications regarding fast track
products under section 506 (relating to the treatment
of serious or life-threatening conditions) as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate;
``(C) apply to the application the performance
goals established by the Secretary for priority drugs;
and
``(D) upon submission of the application, promptly
offer to enter into negotiations with the holder
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regarding the labeling change, and promptly arrange for
the negotiations to take place.
``(2) Dispute resolution.--
``(A) In general.--With respect to negotiations
under paragraph (1), if the Secretary and the holder
involved have not reached agreement on a labeling
change as of the expiration of the 45-day period
beginning on the date on which the negotiations
commenced, the Secretary, upon the request of the
holder, shall commence the process of dispute
resolution under section 562 regarding the labeling
change. In providing for the review under such section
of the matter by an advisory panel, the Secretary shall
ensure that the matter is reviewed by the Pediatric
Advisory Subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Drugs
Advisory Committee.
``(B) Report from advisory panel.--Not later than
90 days after receiving a referral under subparagraph
(A), the subcommittee referred to in such subparagraph
shall--
``(i) review the available information on
the safety and effectiveness of the use of the
drug in the pediatric population, including
reports submitted under this section; and
``(ii) make a recommendation to the
Secretary regarding a labeling change.
``(3) Determination by secretary.--Not later than 30 days
after receiving a recommendation under paragraph (2)(B)(ii)
with respect to a drug, the Secretary shall make a
determination regarding a labeling change for the drug and
inform the holder involved in writing of the determination.
Upon the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date
on which the Secretary so informs the holder, the Secretary may
with respect to the labeling of the drug take such actions in
accordance with this Act as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
``(1) The term `holder for a drug' means the holder of an
approved market application.
``(2) The term `market application' has the meaning given
such term in subsection (a)(2).
``(3) The term `pediatric studies' means at least one
clinical investigation (that, at the Secretary's discretion,
may include pharmacokinetic studies) in pediatric age groups in
which a drug is anticipated to be used.
``(4) The term `priority application' means a drug
application referred to in section 101(4) of the Food and Drug
Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (111 Stat. 2298).
``(5) The term `research exemption' has the meaning given
such term in subsection (a)(2).
``(6) The term `sponsor for a drug' means the sponsor of an
application for the drug under section 505(b)(1) or under
section 351 of the Public Health Service Act, or the sponsor of
a clinical investigation of the drug under an exemption under
section 505(i), as the case may be.
``(g) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of
contracts under subsection (a) and (b), there are authorized to
be appropriated $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such
sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2003
through 2007.
``(2) Limitation.--The authority of the Secretary to enter
into contracts under subsection (a) or (b) is subject to the
extent of amounts provided in advance in an appropriations
Act.''.
(b) Fees for Supplemental Applications.--Section 736(a)(1) of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379h(a)(1)) is
amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (F); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (F).
SEC. 3. SAVINGS PROVISION; INTERACTION OF VARIOUS MARKET-EXCLUSIVITY
PROVISIONS.
(a) Savings Provision.--The amendment made by section 2(a) does not
apply with respect to pediatric studies of drugs that, before the date
of the enactment of this Act, were requested by the Secretary of Health
and Human Services under section 505A of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act, as in effect on the day before such date of enactment, or
were required by the Secretary within the meaning of subsection (i) of
such section as so in effect. Such section 505A as so in effect
continues to apply to the pediatric studies described in the preceding
sentence.
(b) Market-Exclusivity Interactions.--
(1) In general.--Paragraph (2) applies in the case of a
period of market exclusivity that is in effect pursuant to
subsection (a). References in paragraph (2) to section 505A of
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are references to such
section as in effect on the day before the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) Overlap of provisions.--If a 180-day period under
section 505(j)(5)(B)(iv) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act overlaps with a 6-month extension under section
505A of such Act, so that the applicant for approval of a drug
under section 505(j) of such Act entitled to the 180-day period
under that section loses a portion of the 180-day period to
which the applicant is entitled for the drug, the 180-day
period shall be extended--
(A) if the 180-day period would, but for this
subsection, expire after the 6-month extension, by the
number of days of the overlap; or
(B) if the 180-day period would, but for this
subsection, expire during the 6-month extension, by 6
months.
(3) Effect of subsection.--Under no circumstances shall
application of this subsection result in an applicant for
approval of a drug under section 505(j) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act being enabled to commercially market the
drug to the exclusion of a subsequent applicant for approval of
a drug under section 505(j) of such Act for more than 180 days.
SEC. 4. FOUNDATION FOR PEDIATRIC RESEARCH.
Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following part:
``PART J--FOUNDATION FOR PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
``SEC. 499A. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES OF FOUNDATION.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
NIH and in consultation with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall
establish a nonprofit corporation to be known as the Foundation for
Pediatric Research (hereafter in this section referred to as the
`Foundation'). The Foundation shall not be an agency or instrumentality
of the United States Government.
``(b) Purpose of Foundation.--The purpose of the Foundation shall
be to support the conduct of research on drugs listed by the Secretary
pursuant to section 505A(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act.
``(c) Certain Activities of Foundation.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (b), the
Foundation may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and other
donations, establish accounts, and invest and expend funds in
support of a program to encourage donations for the conduct of
studies of drugs referred to in subsection (b).
``(2) Fees.--The Foundation may assess fees for the
provision of professional, administrative and management
services by the Foundation in amounts determined reasonable and
appropriate by the Executive Di
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rector.
``(3) Authority of foundation.--The Foundation shall be the
sole entity responsible for carrying out the activities
described in this subsection.
``(d) Board of Directors.--
``(1) Composition.--
``(A) The Foundation shall have a Board of
Directors (hereafter referred to in this section as the
`Board'), which shall be composed of ex officio and
appointed members in accordance with this subsection.
All appointed members of the Board shall be voting
members.
``(B) The ex officio members of the Board shall
be--
``(i) the Chairman and ranking minority
member of the Subcommittee on Health (Committee
on Energy and Commerce) or their designees, in
the case of the House of Representatives;
``(ii) the Chairman and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor and Pensions or their designees, in the
case of the Senate;
``(iii) the Director of NIH; and
``(iv) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
``(C) The ex officio members of the Board under
subparagraph (B) shall appoint to the Board 11
individuals from among a list of candidates to be
provided by the National Academy of Science. Of such
appointed members--
``(i) 5 shall be representative of the
experts in pediatric medicine and research
field;
``(ii) 1 shall be a biomedical ethicist;
and
``(iii) 5 shall be representatives of the
general public, which may include
representatives of affected industries.
``(D)(i) Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children
Act, the Director of NIH shall convene a meeting of the
ex officio members of the Board to--
``(I) incorporate the Foundation and
establish the general policies of the
Foundation for carrying out the purposes of
subsection (b), including the establishment of
the bylaws of the Foundation; and
``(II) appoint the members of the Board in
accordance with subparagraph (C).
``(ii) Upon the appointment of the members of the
Board under clause (i)(II), the terms of service of the
ex officio members of the Board as members of the Board
shall terminate.
``(E) The agreement of not less than three-fifths
of the members of the ex officio members of the Board
shall be required for the appointment of each member to the initial
Board.
``(F) No employee of the National Institutes of
Health shall be appointed as a member of the Board.
``(G) The Board may, through amendments to the
bylaws of the Foundation, provide that the number of
members of the Board shall be greater than the number
specified in subparagraph (C).
``(2) Chair.--
``(A) The ex officio members of the Board under
paragraph (1)(B) shall designate an individual to serve
as the initial Chair of the Board.
``(B) Upon the termination of the term of service
of the initial Chair of the Board, the appointed
members of the Board shall elect a member of the Board
to serve as the Chair of the Board.
``(3) Terms and vacancies.--
``(A) The term of office of each member of the
Board appointed under paragraph (1)(C) shall be 5
years, except that the terms of offices for the initial
appointed members of the Board shall expire as
determined by the ex officio members and the Chair.
``(B) Any vacancy in the membership of the Board
shall be filled in the manner in which the original
position was made and shall not affect the power of the
remaining members to execute the duties of the Board.
``(C) If a member of the Board does not serve the
full term applicable under subparagraph (A), the
individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy
shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the
predecessor of the individual.
``(D) A member of the Board may continue to serve
after the expiration of the term of the member until a
successor is appointed.
``(4) Compensation.--Members of the Board may not receive
compensation for service on the Board. Such members may be
reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary
expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the Board, as
set forth in the bylaws issued by the Board.
``(5) Meetings and quorum.--A majority of the members of
the Board shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting
the business of the Board.
``(6) Certain bylaws.--
``(A) In establishing bylaws under this subsection,
the Board shall ensure that the following are provided
for:
``(i) Policies for the selection of the
officers, employees, agents, and contractors of
the Foundation.
``(ii) Policies, including ethical
standards, for the acceptance, solicitation,
and disposition of donations and grants to the
Foundation and for the disposition of the
assets of the Foundation. Policies with respect
to ethical standards shall ensure that
officers, employees and agents of the
Foundation (including members of the Board)
avoid encumbrances that would result in a
conflict of interest, including a financial
conflict of interest or a divided allegiance.
Such policies shall include requirements for
the provision of information concerning any
ownership or controlling interest in entities
related to the activities of the Foundation by
such officers, employees and agents and their
spouses and relatives.
``(iii) Policies for the conduct of the
general operations of the Foundation.
``(iv) Policies for writing, editing,
printing, publishing, and vending of books and
other materials.
``(B) In establishing bylaws under this subsection,
the Board shall ensure that such bylaws (and activities
carried out under the bylaws) do not--
``(i) reflect unfavorably upon the ability
of the Foundation to carry out its
responsibilities or official duties in a fair
and objective manner; or
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``(ii) compromise, or appear to compromise,
the integrity of any governmental agency or
program, or any officer or employee involved in
such program.
``(e) Incorporation.--The initial members of the Board shall serve
as incorporators and shall take whatever actions necessary to
incorporate the Foundation.
``(f) Nonprofit Status.--The Foundation shall be considered to be a
corporation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
and shall be subject to the provisions of such section.
``(g) Executive Director.--
``(1) In general.--The Foundation shall have an Executive
Director who shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board. The Executive Director shall be
responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Foundation and
shall have such specific duties and responsibilities as the
Board shall prescribe.
``(2) Compensation.--The rate of compensation of the
Executive Director shall be fixed by the Board.
``(h) Powers.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Foundation may--
``(1) operate under the direction of its Board;
``(2) adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall
be judicially noticed;
``(3) provide for 1 or more officers, employees, and
agents, as may be necessary, define their duties, and require
surety bonds or make other provisions against losses occasioned
by acts of such persons;
``(4) hire, promote, compensate, and discharge officers and
employees of the Foundation, and define the duties of the
officers and employees;
``(5) with the consent of any executive department or
independent agency, use the information, services, staff, and
facilities of such in carrying out this section;
``(6) sue and be sued in its corporate name, and complain
and defend in courts of competent jurisdiction;
``(7) modify or consent to the modification of any contract
or agreement to which it is a party or in which it has an
interest under this part;
``(8) establish a process for the selection of candidates
for positions under subsection (c);
``(9) enter into contracts with public and private
organizations for the writing, editing, printing, and
publishing of books and other material;
``(10) take such action as may be necessary to obtain
patents and licenses for devices and procedures developed by
the Foundation and its employees;
``(11) solicit, accept, hold, administer, invest, and spend
any gift, devise, or bequest of real or personal property made
to the Foundation;
``(12) enter into such other contracts, leases, cooperative
agreements, and other transactions as the Executive Director
considers appropriate to conduct the activities of the
Foundation;
``(13) appoint other groups of advisors as may be
determined necessary from time to time to carry out the
functions of the Foundation;
``(14) enter into such other contracts, leases, cooperative
agreements, and other transactions as the Executive Director
considers appropriate to conduct the activities of the
Foundation; and
``(15) exercise other powers as set forth in this section,
and such other incidental powers as are necessary to carry out
its powers, duties, and functions in accordance with this part.
``(i) Administrative Control.--No participant in the program
established under this part shall exercise any administrative control
over any Federal employee.
``(j) General Provisions.--
``(1) Foundation integrity.--The members of the Board shall
be accountable for the integrity of the operations of the
Foundation and shall ensure such integrity through the
development and enforcement of criteria and procedures relating
to standards of conduct (including those developed under
subsection (d)(6)(A)(ii)), financial disclosure statements,
conflict of interest rules, recusal and waiver rules, audits
and other matter determined appropriate by the Board.
``(2) Financial conflicts of interest.--Any individual who
is an officer, employee, or member of the Board of the
Foundation may not (in accordance with policies and
requirements developed under subsection (d)(6)(A)(ii))
personally or substantially participate in the consideration or
determination by the Foundation of any matter that would
directly or predictably affect any financial interest of the
individual or a relative (as such term is defined in section
109(16) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978) of the
individual, of any business organization or other entity, or of
which the individual is an officer or employee, or is
negotiating for employment, or in which the individual has any
other financial interest.
``(3) Audits; availability of records.--The Foundation
shall--
``(A) provide for annual audits of the financial
condition of the Foundation; and
``(B) make such audits, and all other records,
documents, and other papers of the Foundation,
available to the Secretary and the Comptroller General
of the United States for examination or audit.
``(4) Reports.--
``(A) Not later than 5 months following the end of
each fiscal year, the Foundation shall publish a report
describing the activities of the Foundation during the
preceding fiscal year. Each such report shall include
for the fiscal year involved a comprehensive statement
of the operations, activities, financial condition, and
accomplishments of the Foundation.
``(B) With respect to the financial condition of
the Foundation, each report under subparagraph (A)
shall include the source, and a description of, all
gifts or grants to the Foundation of real or personal
property, and the source and amount of all gifts or
grants to the Foundation of money. Each such report
shall include a specification of any restrictions on
the purposes for which gifts or grants to the
Foundation may be used.
``(C) The Foundation shall make copies of each
report submitted under subparagraph (A) available for
public inspection, and shall upon request provide a
copy of the report to any individual for a charge not
exceeding the cost of providing the copy.
``(D) The Board shall annually hold a public
meeting to summarize the activities of the Foundation
and distribute written reports concerning such
activities and the scientific results derived from such
activities.
``(5) Service of federal employees.--Federal employees may
serve on committees advisory to the Foundation and otherwise
cooperate with and assist the Foundation in carrying out its
function, so long as the employees do not direct or control
Foundation activities.
``(6) Relationship with existing entities.--The Foundation
may, pursuant to appropriate agreements, merge with, acquire,
or use the resources of existing nonprofit private corporations
with missions similar to the purposes of the Foundation.
``(7) Intellectu
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al property rights.--The Board shall adopt
written standards with respect to the ownership of any
intellectual property rights derived from the collaborative
efforts of the Foundation prior to the commencement of such
efforts.
``(8) National institutes of health amendments of 1990.--
The activities conducted in support of the National Institutes
of Health Amendments of 1990 (Public Law 101-613), and the
amendments made by such Act, shall not be nullified by the
enactment of this section.
``(9) Limitation of activities.--The Foundation shall exist
solely as an entity to work in collaboration with the research
programs of the National Institutes of Health. The Foundation
may not undertake activities (such as the operation of
independent laboratories or competing for Federal research
funds) that are independent of those of the National Institutes
of Health research programs.
``(10) Transfer of funds.--The Foundation may transfer
funds to the National Institutes of Health. Any funds
transferred under this paragraph shall be subject to all
Federal limitations relating to federally-funded research.
``(k) Duties of the Director.--
``(1) Applicability of certain standards to non-federal
employees.--In the case of any individual who is not an
employee of the Federal Government and who serves in
association with the National Institutes of Health, with
respect to financial assistance received from the Foundation,
the Foundation may not provide the assistance of, or otherwise
permit the work at the National Institutes of Health to begin
until a memorandum of understanding between the individual and
the Director of NIH, or the designee of such Director, has been
executed specifying that the individual shall be subject to
such ethical and procedural standards of conduct relating to
duties performed at the National Institutes of Health, as the
Director of NIH determines is appropriate.
``(2) Support services.--The Director of NIH may provide
facilities, utilities and support services to the Foundation if
it is determined by the Director to be advantageous to the
research programs of the National Institutes of Health.
``(l) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of
carrying out this part, there are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002 and each
subsequent fiscal year.
``(2) Limitation regarding other funds.--Amounts
appropriated under any provision of law other than paragraph
(1) may not be expended to establish or operate the
Foundation.''.
SEC. 5. OFFICE OF PEDIATRIC THERAPEUTICS.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall establish an Office of Pediatric Therapeutics within the Office
of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
(b) Duties.--The Office of Pediatric Therapeutics shall be
responsible for oversight and coordination of all activities of the
Food and Drug Administration that may have any effect on a pediatric
population or the practice of pediatrics or may in any other way
involve pediatric issues.
(c) Staff.--The staff of the Office of Pediatric Therapeutics shall
include--
(1) employees of the Department of Health and Human
Services who, as of the date of enactment of this Act, exercise
responsibilities relating to pediatric therapeutics;
(2) 1 or more additional individuals with expertise
concerning ethical issues presented by the conduct of clinical
research in the pediatric population; and
(3) 1 or more additional individuals with expertise in
pediatrics who shall consult and collaborate with all
components of the Food and Drug Administration concerning
activities described in subsection (b).
SEC. 6. STUDY CONCERNING RESEARCH INVOLVING CHILDREN.
(a) Contract With Institute of Medicine.--The Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall enter into a contract with the Institute of
Medicine for--
(1) the conduct, in accordance with subsection (b), of a
review of--
(A) Federal regulations in effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act relating to research
involving children;
(B) federally-prepared or supported reports
relating to research involving children; and
(C) federally-supported evidence-based research
involving children; and
(2) the submission to the appropriate committees of
Congress, by not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, of a report concerning the review conducted under
paragraph (1) that includes recommendations on best practices
relating to research involving children.
(b) Areas of Review.--In conducting the review under subsection
(a)(1), the Institute of Medicine shall consider the following:
(1) The written and oral process of obtaining and defining
``assent'', ``permission'' and ``informed consent'' with
respect to child clinical research participants and the
parents, guardians, and the individuals who may serve as the
legally authorized representatives of such children (as defined
in subpart A of part 46 of title 45, Code of Regulations).
(2) The expectations and comprehension of child research
participants and the parents, guardians, or legally authorized
representatives of such children, for the direct benefits and
risks of the child's research involvement, particularly in
terms of research versus therapeutic treatment.
(3) The definition of ``minimal risk'' with respect to a
healthy child or a child with an illness.
(4) The appropriateness of the regulations applicable to
children of differing ages and maturity levels, including
regulations relating to legal status.
(5) Whether payment (financial or otherwise) may be
provided to a child or his or her parent, guardian, or legally
authorized representative for the participation of the child in
research, and if so, the amount and type of payment that may be
made.
(6) Compliance with the regulations referred to in
subsection (a)(1)(A), the monitoring of such compliance
(including the role of institutional review boards), and the
enforcement actions taken for violations of such regulations.
(7) The unique roles and responsibilities of institutional
review boards in reviewing research involving children,
including composition of membership on institutional review
boards.
(c) Requirements of Expertise.--The Institute of Medicine shall
conduct the review under subsection (a)(1) and make recommendations
under subsection (a)(2) in conjunction with experts in pediatric
medicine, pediatric research, and the ethical conduct of research
involving children.
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