North Charlotte Today

Senators Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, Marsha Blackburn, James Lankford, and Steve Daines have introduced the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to amend the Inflation Reduction Act's provisions on small molecule drugs, which are seen as discouraging research and development investments.

Senator Tillis emphasized the importance of timely access to innovative treatments for patients with cancer, rare diseases, and chronic conditions. He stated that "the EPIC Act of 2025 will ensure patients of today and tomorrow have uninterrupted access to life-saving and life-changing therapies."

Senator Budd criticized President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act 'pill penalty' for hindering essential research and development. He expressed hope that the EPIC Act would encourage more investment in innovative medicines needed by North Carolinians.

Senator Daines voiced concerns about government overreach stifling critical research for much-needed cures. He joined his colleagues in supporting the bill to promote innovation for patients nationwide.

John Stanford from the Incubate Coalition praised Senator Tillis’ leadership in addressing IRA flaws through the EPIC Act. He believes it will drive innovation by creating a fairer system based on scientific potential rather than policy barriers.

Gordon Lavigne from the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance highlighted how new schizophrenia treatments are endangered by current policies. He sees the EPIC Act as crucial for ensuring treatment access for those with schizophrenia.

Sally Werner from Cancer Support Community thanked Senator Tillis and his colleagues for introducing the EPIC Act. She noted its significance in eliminating distinctions between small and large molecule drugs within IRA negotiations, ensuring patient access to suitable treatments.

The background context reveals that under current law, small molecule drugs face earlier price control eligibility compared to biologics, affecting pharmaceutical companies' ability to recover R&D costs. This has resulted in reduced funding for small molecule medicines since September 2021.