[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[April 9, 1992]
[Page 575]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 575]]

Statement on Reform of the Drug Approval Process

April 9, 1992
    I am pleased to announce that, as part of the administration's 
ongoing efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, the Food and 
Drug Administration is today implementing important reforms to the drug 
approval process.
    The reforms announced today could ultimately save millions of lives 
by giving patients, including those suffering from such debilitating 
diseases as cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimer's, earlier access to promising 
new drugs. The reforms will also make American pharmaceutical companies 
more competitive by allowing them to cut years off the drug development 
process.
    These are the first steps toward achieving the administration's goal 
of reducing by about 40 percent the average amount of time it takes to 
bring new drugs to market.
    Today's announcement is the outgrowth of an initiative I began in 
1988 as Chairman of President Reagan's Task Force on Regulatory Relief. 
I commend the Council on Competitiveness and the Department of Health 
and Human Services for bringing this initiative to fruition.