Call to Action - Kill SB 535
The House votes TODAY on SB 535
This bill passed the House Human Services vote 12/9, not on party lines. There is massive money involved in pushing this bill through. I have been told there are EIGHT lobbyists working to get this bill to the Governor’s desk . I can tell you, these Biotech firms see huge dollar signs bringing their centers to Montana, as first in the nation to have such free-standing experimental treatment centers.
Remember, “right to try” is already legal, allowing people with terminal and chronic disease to access treatments not yet approved by the FDA. This bill is very different. Throughout both Senate and House committee hearings, the proponents made it clear that “longevity” treatments to extend one’s lifespan was the goal of these centers. It allows almost anyone access to an experimental treatment that has only passed phase I testing, which would be healthy volunteers of 20-100 people. The goal of phase I clinical trials is to find a safe dose before unwanted adverse effects occur. There is no testing of efficacy—if the treatment has the desired effect. There is no plan to continue clinical trials in these experimental treatment centers, which means that there will be no FDA oversight monitoring for harm.
Please see the previous Substack for a more thorough review of our concerns with SB 535.
Take action this morning, call the MT legislature at 406-444-4800 and urge a DO NOT PASS on SB 535 for the entire House body.
