Trump to sign ‘right to try’ bill next week

President Trump will sign legislation next week allowing terminally ill patients to access experimental drugs not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

White House officials made the announcement on “right to try” in a call with reporters Friday. 

The controversial bill, which cleared Congress on Tuesday, has been a priority for Trump and Vice President Pence all year and has been pushed by GOP mega-donors Charles and David Koch.{mosads}

Passage of the bill is a victory for Trump, who personally called on lawmakers to send the measure to his desk, including an unexpected endorsement in his State of the Union address this year.

Right to try has drawn backlash from House Democrats and patient safety organizations, who worry sidelining the FDA puts patients in danger. 

Advocacy groups such as the American Cancer Society oppose the bill.

Opponents argue it gives “false hope” to patients since drugmakers aren’t required to give unapproved medicines to patients who ask for them. They also contend that the FDA already has a program that helps patients access investigational drugs and approves 99 percent of those requests.