PRINTER'S NO. 1529
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
337
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, V. BROWN, COHEN, CORBIN, CUTLER, DeLUCA,
A. HARRIS, MARSICO, McGINNIS, MILLARD, MURT, PICKETT,
RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROZZI, SAYLOR, THOMAS AND WATSON,
MAY 12, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MAY 12, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Strongly urging the members of Congress of the United States
from Pennsylvania to demand the United States Food and Drug
Administration immediately approve the drug GM604 to treat
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is better known
as Lou Gehrig's Disease; and
WHEREAS, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease
characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the upper and
lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horn of
the spinal cord; and
WHEREAS, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the
skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
WHEREAS, As ALS progresses, the patient experiences
difficulty in swallowing, talking and breathing; and
WHEREAS, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the
patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
WHEREAS, Patients with ALS typically remain alert and aware
of their loss of motor functions and the inevitable outcome of
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continued deterioration and death; and
WHEREAS, Annually, more than 5,000 new ALS patients are
diagnosed throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, there are currently more than 1,000
individuals who have been formally diagnosed with ALS; and
WHEREAS, The ALS Association reported in 2009 that on
average, patients diagnosed with ALS only survive two to five
years from the time of diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, While ALS has no known cause, prevention or cure,
the drug GM604 has shown promise in trials of slowing down,
stopping and even reversing the effects of ALS; and
WHEREAS, GM604 has demonstrated safety in trials and has
demonstrated significant efficacy; and
WHEREAS, Because the majority of ALS patients face certain
paralysis and death, ALS presents a compelling case for GM604 to
receive immediate approval by the United States Food and Drug
Administration to treat the disease; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly urge the members of the
Congress of the United States from Pennsylvania to demand the
United States Food and Drug Administration immediately approve
the drug GM604 to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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