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Reps. Veasey (TX-33) and Perlmutter (CO-07) Call On FDA To Repurpose Existing Drugs To Help Combat Coronavirus Pandemic

March 16, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, Congressmen Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) wrote a letter urging the Food and Drug Administration to ensure availability of existing drugs that have shown promise to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Specifically, the letter requests information regarding the obstacles to procurement for chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine—compounds that are both potential broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that researchers say could prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The letter requests information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the United States' ability to procure sufficient quantities of these drugs should their effectiveness be proven and any congressional action that can be taken to advance efforts in supplying these treatments.

"The health and safety of North Texans is my top priority," said Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33). "Combatting COVID-19 and saving lives across the country means we must ensure that no treatment option is overlooked. That is why I am proud to lead this letter that calls on the Food and Drug Administration to utilize and repurpose existing drugs to fight against the virus while we are waiting on a vaccine to cure this pandemic."

"As treatments continue to be developed as quickly as possible to combat COVID-19, the United States must ensure it has the capability to utilize and repurpose existing drugs at our disposal," said Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-07). "Many of these existing drugs have the potential to be effective and we need to be prepared so we can have these treatments available for Americans."