Utah governor signs bill allowing experimental treatments

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has approved a bill allowing terminally-ill patients to use experimental drugs before the treatments receive federal approval.

The Republican governor signed the proposal Tuesday.

Huntsville Republican Rep. Gage Froerer sponsored the measure, which gives patients access to drugs that have passed the first stage of testing by the federal Food and Drug Administration but have not received final approval.

The so-called “Right to Try” bill makes Utah the latest in a series of states to pass such legislation, which is being pushed by the Arizona-based libertarian think tank The Goldwater Institute.

Supporters of the legislation argue that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval process is too lengthy.

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