On November 9, 1997, both houses of Congress passed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Reform bill which includes a provision offered by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) that establishes a toll-free number so that people with life-threatening diseases and the medical community can more easily find out what research projects are underway. This service would create a comprehensive list of all clinical trials that are available.

The FDA Reform bill passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives on voice votes and now needs only the signature of President Clinton to become law. Facilitating access to clinical trials information can help doctors and their patients with diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimers learn about research underway and can expand the pool of research participants. Senator Feinstein learned about the need for the legislation from a constituent who was testifying earlier this year before the Senate Cancer Coalition, which Senator Feinstein chairs along with Senator Connie Mack (R-FL).

The clinical trials database provisions in the FDA Reform bill, incorporate S. 87, a bill introduced by Senators Feinstein and Snowe in August of 1996. The approved FDA Reform Bill would rewrite, and in many cases streamline, the regulatory procedures of the FDA, an agency that regulates the contents, labeling and use of one out of every three American consumer products. The FDA bill is also designed to accelerate drug approvals.

For additional information, visit the FDA's website.