Washington, D.C. (December 1, 2021) – Building on the success of the Cures Act passed in 2016, Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Fred Upton (R-MI) introduced Cures 2.0, a bipartisan bill that, once passed, would be a tremendous victory in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

One of the bill’s most important provisions is the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Originally proposed by President Joe Biden and modeled after the highly successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which helped bring the Internet and GPS to life, ARPA-H would turbocharge research and innovation in the effort to end Alzheimer’s Disease. Specifically, ARPA-H would:

• Foster the development of breakthrough technologies to accelerate innovations in health and medicine.
• Revolutionize diagnosis, mitigation, prevention, and treatment of diseases.
• Promote high-risk, high-reward innovation to develop high-need cures.
• Ensure the United States maintains our global leadership in science and innovation while ensuring the highest quality of life and health for its citizens.

But the benefits of Cures 2.0 go even further by:

• Increasing diversity in clinical trials, which is particularly important considering people of color and women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s.
• Expanding use of patient perspectives in regulatory review of treatments.
• Capturing a wider array of patient experience data, which will enable the medical community to use real world evidence to see a fuller picture of health care delivery and outcomes.
• Improving FDA-CMS communications and collaboration on transformative new therapies.
• Investing in education and support for those caring for family members with Alzheimer’s.

The Cures 2.0 legislation seeks to build upon the progress made since the original 21st Century Cures Act, sponsored by DeGette and Upton, was signed into law in 2016. That legislation revolutionized how the U.S. researches and develops new cures and treatments, it also included then Vice-President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Program.

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UsAgainstAlzheimer’s exists to conquer Alzheimer’s disease. We take on the toughest problems; bring all of “Us” together to break down barriers; advocate for research that will speed treatments to market; and drive changes that matter most to people living with the disease. We will not rest until brain-span equals lifespan - for everyone.