"When I really got involved in this was two years ago, when I met a wonderful woman, Trickett Wendler, Tim’s wife, and I just mentioned this new effort I’d heard about with the Goldwater Institute, this ‘right to try,’ Tears started streaming down her face. Just the possibility of giving Trickett some hope: And that’s really what this piece of legislation, what these efforts are really about, is providing patients hope."
– Senator Ron Johnson
Senator Johnson advocates for access to experimental treatments for people like Trickett Wendler and many of others including Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina
Johnson leads letter to FDA underscoring Congressional support for accelerated review of promising therapies
Senator Johnson introduces Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act of 2016. The bill passes the Senate but fails to pass Congress by the end of the 114th Congress
Senator Johnson re-introduces Right to Try legislation – The Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 – in 115th Congress. Right to Try passes Senate.
Senator Johnson urges House of Representatives to pass Senate-approved Right to Try legislation in 115th Congress and receives backing from President Trump.
Right to Try Act passes both the House and Senate. President Trump signs The Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 into law on Dec. 21, 2018
While potential treatments for many terminal illnesses were in the FDA’s clinical pipeline, Trickett was prescribed the same medications her father was given in the 1990s.
Sen. Johnson meets Tim and Trickett Wendler on 5/8/14 at a Constituent coffee in Washington, DC.
“patients and patient advocacy groups remain concerned about the time it takes to approve new treatments through the clinical trial pipeline.”
– Sen. Ron Johnson
“The right to try to save your own life is the most personal right we have. It is unethical and unconstitutional for government to deny patients that right. In America today, terminal patients have the right to hasten their deaths through right to die laws, but they do not have the right to try to fight to live. You can get drugs to end your life but not to save it. I think most of us would agree there’s something desperately wrong with that.”
– Darcy Olsen, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute
View Committee Hearing“The purpose of this hearing now is to put a face — a human face — so that we in Congress can make some intelligent decisions here, so that we can try and break through the legitimate concerns, whether it’s the FDA or the drug manufacturers."
– Sen. Ron Johnson
Visit Hearing Page“The cost of delays in approving or granting access to therapies is paid in human lives. I urge the FDA to consider those lives when making final decisions on this and all potential life-saving drugs. It is time to give these patients hope."
Read the Statement
“We write to express our concern about the ongoing delay to complete review of this drug and to emphasize the urgency with which all applications for drugs addressing debilitating, terminal, and rare conditions must be considered”
Read the Letter“Duchenne is a nearly 100 percent fatal disease, and patients like Jordan McLinn have been crying out for the FDA to complete its review of this promising treatment.”
“I write to express my disappointment that you have declined the committee’s invitation…”
Read Article“For the millions of patients fighting for a chance to try, we must do what we can to help them. Right to Try is not a cure, and it’s not a miracle, but it is a way to hold on to hope,” Johnson said.