MPR: Franken jumps into medtech fray

DFL Sen. Al Franken is the latest in a series of Minnesota lawmakers drafting bills to speed up the approval of medical devices.

Franken's bill, released Tuesday and co-sponsored with fellow Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and John Kerry (D-MA), eases some conflict of interest rules affecting outside experts on Food and Drug Administration review panels and lifts an FDA rule that caps profits for devices that treat rare conditions. Easing that rule is intended to encourage companies to develop devices that would otherwise serve a very small number of patients.

"My legislation would remove unnecessary barriers so that these critical medical devices get to the patients that need them as quickly and safely as possible," said Franken in a written statement.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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