Prioritizing Medical Countermeasures for National Security Act of 2023

To improve the program to provide for priority review of human drug applications to encourage treatment for agents that present national security threats. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prioritizing Medical Countermeasures for National Security Act of 2023 2. Extension and expansion of medical countermeasure priority review voucher program (a) Definition of medical countermeasure application Subsection (a)(4) of section 565A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 360bbb–4a (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking Material threat medical Medical (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking material threat (3) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: (A) is a human drug application for a drug that is— (i) labeled for an indication to prevent or treat a disease or condition specifically caused by a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agent; and (ii) part of a class or category of drug on the list described in subsection (b) at the time of approval of the application. . (b) List of medical countermeasures for national security threats Section 565A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 360bbb–4a (1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (g) as subsections (c) through (g) and (i), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (a), the following: (b) List of medical countermeasures for national security threats (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, in consultation with the Public Health Emergency Medical Enterprise established under section 2801 of the Public Health Service Act, including the Secretary of Defense, shall establish and maintain a list of potentially eligible classes and categories of drugs that are identified as necessary to prevent or treat the diseases and conditions specifically caused by a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agent that— (A) has the potential to lead to a public health emergency with significant potential to affect national security; or (B) may present a specific threat to the Armed Forces. (2) Factors In establishing and revising the list under paragraph (1), the Secretary may consider— (A) whether an eligible class or category of drugs that is identified is— (i) needed to protect the public health, using the same standard that applies with respect to determinations of material threats under section 319F–2(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the Public Health Service Act; and (ii) determined to be a priority (consistent with sections 302(2) and 304(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002); (B) for any class or category of drugs under consideration to address specific threats to the Armed Forces, information provided by the Secretary of Defense to help evaluate whether a priority review voucher is necessary and beneficial to incentivize product development for the Department of Defense use and fielding; (C) whether the class or category of drug requires incentivization in the form a priority review voucher based upon economic factors, such as whether there is a sufficient market to support the development of the potential medical countermeasures and the maturity of the medical countermeasure pipeline; (D) the potential effect of an addition of a class or category of drug on the potential sale value of priority review vouchers; and (E) such other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate. (3) Duties The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, shall— (A) in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Program, disclose to interested priority review applicants the list developed under paragraph (1); (B) periodically review the list developed under paragraph (1) for continued necessity and appropriateness, and add, amend, or remove any classes or categories of drugs if no longer necessary or appropriate; and (C) maintain a publicly available archive of the list over time. (4) Transition period Before the date of the initial publication of the list developed under paragraph (1), the most recent priority list developed under this section before the date of enactment of the Prioritizing Medical Countermeasures for National Security Act of 2023 . (c) GAO report Section 565A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 360bbb–4a (h) GAO report (1) In general Not later than September 30, 2027, the Comptroller General of the United States shall transmit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of this section in encouraging the development of the medical countermeasures needed to protect and prepare for emerging threats to public health and national security. (2) Contents The report shall include— (A) input from the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and (B) recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States, if any, on necessary modifications to this section. . (d) Sunset Subsection (i) of such section, as redesignated by subsection (b)(1) of this section, is amended— (1) by striking subsection (b) subsection (c) (2) by striking October 1, 2023 October 1, 2029 (e) Conforming amendments To remove references to material threats Section 565A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 360bbb–4a material threat (1) subsection (a)(3); (2) paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c), as redesignated by subsection (b)(1); and (3) subsection (f), as so redesignated.

Summary: Prioritizing Medical Countermeasures for National Security Act of 2023 This bill requires the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to establish a list of categories of drugs that may be necessary to address a public health emergency or threat to the Armed Forces in order to facilitate the development of such drugs. Specifically, ASPR must list categories and classes of drugs that may be necessary to prevent or treat diseases or conditions that are caused by chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents and that have the potential to cause a public health emergency that threatens national security, or that may pose a threat to the Armed Forces. ASPR must share the list with interested parties to incentivize development and speed review of relevant drug applications. The Government Accountability Office must report on the bill's effectiveness in encouraging the development of necessary medical countermeasures.