u.s. lawmakers tuesday approve bill provide financial incentives company develop treatments zika virus white house say president barack obama expect sign legislation although insufficient meet challenge measure allow food drug administration include zika drug developers agency priority review voucher program program encourage manufacturers study treatments diseases might profitable expedite regulatory review lucrative drug research pipeline house representatives pass bill voice vote without roll call weeks measure approve senate white house spokeswoman katie hill say obama expect sign bill call small step could encourage private sector tackle zika contain fund ultimately insufficient since provide 1.9 billion fund public health experts say need right prepare americans imminent local transmission zika country say statement democrats administration officials urge republican-controlled congress grant nearly 1.9 billion emergency fund combat spread zika temporary fix white house say last week would redirect 589 million allocate fund prepare mosquito carry disease emerge continental unite state accord world health organization strong scientific consensus zika virus cause rare birth defect microcephaly newborns link virus birth defect scientifically establish tuesday brazil confirm 1,113 case microcephaly consider relate zika infections mother drugmakers work zika-related drug consider research include sanofi sa glaxosmithkline plc inovio pharmaceuticals inc takeda pharmaceutical co ltd. zika first detect brazil last year spread americas world health organization declare global health emergency due virus possible link microcephaly baby guillain-barre syndrome rare neurological disorder adults monday top health officials say mosquito spread virus present 30 u.s. state make local outbreaks possibility also predict hundreds thousands people would infect puerto rico mosquito season kick summer pharmaceutical company may give priority review voucher develop drug infectious disease case zika may generate much profit manufacturer voucher give company right accelerate review fda lucrative drug pipeline develop new drug take years cost millions dollars standard fda review take least 10 months complete long agency require additional information able shave time process get profitable drug onto market fast worth millions dollars manufacturer agency priority review program company submit drug review intend treat serious condition whose drug show significant improvement safety effectiveness exist treatments eligible review six months least four months fast usual priority review voucher give company right six-month review product regardless whether meet condition normally require receive accelerate review also give company right sell voucher another company law currently make company eligible priority review voucher develop drug one 20 tropical diseases list voucher program include malaria cholera leprosy dengue tuberculosis ebola fda authority add infectious diseases list primarily affect poor countries congress send obama bill zika drug development