From the pages of Drug Information Daily:
Does Califf’s Opioid Announcement Go Far Enough?
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) will maintain their holds on the nomination of Robert Califf for the top job at the FDA, despite the agency’s announcement Thursday that it would overhaul its opioid policies.
Specifically, the FDA said it would reexamine its approval, REMS and postmarket policies for opioids in response to a growing abuse epidemic and calls to action from lawmakers.
The senators — along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — in January placed holds on Califf’s nomination, with all three citing the FDA’s handling of approving prescription opioids.
A spokeswoman for Manchin tells DID that the senator’s plans have not changed, and he still plans to filibuster and hold Califf’s nomination. Manchin said the FDA’s announcement that it would re-evaluate its risk-benefit framework for the drugs will only “slightly improve” the agency’s response to the opioid epidemic, and that “sweeping changes” are still necessary.
Markey said in a statement that the FDA’s actions are “some important steps” but “fall short of what is needed.”
Andrew Kolodny, director of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing and the chief medical officer of Phoenix House, tells DID that many of the FDA’s “speaking points” are “meaningless.”
He criticized the agency’s announcement that it would convene an advisory panel before approving any new opioids that lack abuse-deterrent properties, asserting that these meetings should be held for all approvals regarding opioids.
Senator Markey also made that point: “By refusing to convene advisory committees to inform all of its opioid approval decisions, the FDA continues to ignore outside experts who could help stem the tide of tragic deaths and overdoses plaguing the country,” Markey said in a statement. He also said he would continue to hold off on Califf’s nomination “[u]ntil the FDA commits to convene advisory committees of outside experts for all its opioid approval decisions.
Peter Pitts, president and founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a former FDA associate commissioner, tells DID that he thinks the FDA’s approach could make a difference, saying it will make the approval process “more complete.” “I think there will be a higher evidentiary standard on the one hand, but on the other hand there will be a clearly explained pathway as to how to achieve it. They're taking ambiguity out of the process.”
Pitts added that the approach is going to provide guidance on how to develop abuse-deterrent opioids and how to use real-world data to impact post-approval labeling.
Does Califf’s Opioid Announcement Go Far Enough?
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) will maintain their holds on the nomination of Robert Califf for the top job at the FDA, despite the agency’s announcement Thursday that it would overhaul its opioid policies.
Specifically, the FDA said it would reexamine its approval, REMS and postmarket policies for opioids in response to a growing abuse epidemic and calls to action from lawmakers.
The senators — along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — in January placed holds on Califf’s nomination, with all three citing the FDA’s handling of approving prescription opioids.
A spokeswoman for Manchin tells DID that the senator’s plans have not changed, and he still plans to filibuster and hold Califf’s nomination. Manchin said the FDA’s announcement that it would re-evaluate its risk-benefit framework for the drugs will only “slightly improve” the agency’s response to the opioid epidemic, and that “sweeping changes” are still necessary.
Markey said in a statement that the FDA’s actions are “some important steps” but “fall short of what is needed.”
Andrew Kolodny, director of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing and the chief medical officer of Phoenix House, tells DID that many of the FDA’s “speaking points” are “meaningless.”
He criticized the agency’s announcement that it would convene an advisory panel before approving any new opioids that lack abuse-deterrent properties, asserting that these meetings should be held for all approvals regarding opioids.
Senator Markey also made that point: “By refusing to convene advisory committees to inform all of its opioid approval decisions, the FDA continues to ignore outside experts who could help stem the tide of tragic deaths and overdoses plaguing the country,” Markey said in a statement. He also said he would continue to hold off on Califf’s nomination “[u]ntil the FDA commits to convene advisory committees of outside experts for all its opioid approval decisions.
Peter Pitts, president and founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a former FDA associate commissioner, tells DID that he thinks the FDA’s approach could make a difference, saying it will make the approval process “more complete.” “I think there will be a higher evidentiary standard on the one hand, but on the other hand there will be a clearly explained pathway as to how to achieve it. They're taking ambiguity out of the process.”
Pitts added that the approach is going to provide guidance on how to develop abuse-deterrent opioids and how to use real-world data to impact post-approval labeling.
