A new bill intended to spur drugmaker interest in developing drugs for chronic illnesses may prompt creation of a distinct approval process for such treatments, congressional aides say.

Drug sponsors may be able to collect less and better-targeted safety data in late-stage or postmarket trials if certain aspects of the safety profile are already well established, according to a new draft guidance.

Money is at the center of a drug industry dispute on proposed changes to the accelerated approval process — a debate that has created a schism between large drugmakers and their smaller counterparts, an expert says.