FDA Gets A New Chief
After months of political wrangling the Senate confirmed Andrew von Eschenbach, MD as the head of the Food and Drug Administration last night. His ascension to the top spot at the agency comes at an opportune time as it faces a number of very difficult challenges. Some of the most important include:
-   Expanding the FDA’s budget given the raft of additional regulatory duties it is being asked to take on
-Â Â Â Streamlining and improving the review of direct to consumer advertising/marketing
-Â Â Â Managing conflicts of interest on FDA advisory panels
-Â Â Â Monitoring the safety of medications after they have been approved by the agency
-Â Â Â Determining whether and how to develop a generic market for biotech drugs
Look for von Eschenbach to appear at a number of Congressional hearings on these issues next year.
