House passes Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act too Expand Childhood Cancer Treatment Options
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act, legislation aimed at accelerating the development and availability of innovative treatments for childhood cancer. The bill, named for Mikaela Naylon who battled a rare form of cancer before passing away in 2023, seeks to incentivize pharmaceutical companies to focus research and development on pediatric oncology.
The passage of this act represents a critically important victory for families and advocates fighting for improved outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer, the leading cause of disease-related death for children in the United States. Currently, fewer than 10% of federal funding for cancer research is dedicated to childhood cancers, despite the devastating impact the disease has on young patients and their families. The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act aims to address this disparity by offering incentives for drug development targeted at pediatric cancers, potentially leading to more effective therapies and improved survival rates.
The legislation will allow the Food and Drug Management (FDA) to review drugs intended for rare pediatric diseases, including cancers, using a streamlined process and potentially granting market exclusivity extensions. This incentivizes pharmaceutical companies to invest in developing treatments for smaller patient populations where profitability might or else be limited.
“She believed that all children, no matter how rare their diagnosis, deserve access to the most promising treatments and a real chance at life. This legislation reflects that mission,” the Naylon family told Fox News Digital.
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, championed the bill, alongside Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and Gus bilirakis, R-Fla. The Naylon family expressed gratitude for their commitment, and also the support of advocacy groups who helped advance the legislation.
“Their commitment ensures that Mikaela’s voice, and the voices of so many brave children like her, will forever be heard in the halls of Congress,” the family said.
The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. If passed and signed into law, it could significantly impact the landscape of pediatric cancer research and treatment, offering renewed hope to families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis.
