Some snippets from an excellent article in the Pink Sheet.
Gottlieb Nomination As US FDA Chief Could Signal Changes To Generic Approval Process
Michael Cipriano
Former deputy commissioner will also likely push increased use of biomarkers and more flexibility in off-label communication, among other reforms. President Donald Trump's choice of Scott Gottlieb to head the US FDA could signal efforts to bring reforms among a variety of fronts, perhaps none more notable than how the agency approves generic drugs.
Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a former FDA associate commissioner, touted Gottlieb as "a great choice." Pitts, who worked with Gottlieb for nearly two years at the agency, tells the Pink Sheet that he "knows the people, he knows the process, and he understands how to make both work harder and smarter."
"He understands the need to bring generic drugs to the market faster," Pitts said. "He understands the importance of addressing the single-source generic issue from a competitive perspective. He also understands, probably most importantly, the need not just for things happening faster, but things happening with greater predictability."
Public Citizen, however, was not so rosy about Gottlieb's selection, citing his close ties to industry, as it similarly did when Robert Califf was tapped to head the agency under President Obama.
In a statement, Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, noted that Gottlieb is currently serving or has recently served on the boards of five pharmaceutical companies, including that of GlaxoSmithKlein, and that he received at least $413,000 from multiple drug and medical device companies for mainly consulting and speaking fees. Carome called on the Senate to reject his nomination.
"When Gottlieb served as FDA deputy commissioner, he was recused from many key meetings and decisions due to his close relationship with industry," Carome said. "If the Senate does not reject Gottlieb, he will have to be recused from key decisions time and time again, otherwise there is no way to be sure he will put the public’s health over industry profits."
Pitts, however, contended that close ties to industry "are incredibly important."
"FDA has to be both a regulator of and ally with industry," Pitts said. "And I think Scott is the right guy to practice that nuanced relationship."
Gottlieb Nomination As US FDA Chief Could Signal Changes To Generic Approval Process
Michael Cipriano
Former deputy commissioner will also likely push increased use of biomarkers and more flexibility in off-label communication, among other reforms. President Donald Trump's choice of Scott Gottlieb to head the US FDA could signal efforts to bring reforms among a variety of fronts, perhaps none more notable than how the agency approves generic drugs.
Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a former FDA associate commissioner, touted Gottlieb as "a great choice." Pitts, who worked with Gottlieb for nearly two years at the agency, tells the Pink Sheet that he "knows the people, he knows the process, and he understands how to make both work harder and smarter."
"He understands the need to bring generic drugs to the market faster," Pitts said. "He understands the importance of addressing the single-source generic issue from a competitive perspective. He also understands, probably most importantly, the need not just for things happening faster, but things happening with greater predictability."
Public Citizen, however, was not so rosy about Gottlieb's selection, citing his close ties to industry, as it similarly did when Robert Califf was tapped to head the agency under President Obama.
In a statement, Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, noted that Gottlieb is currently serving or has recently served on the boards of five pharmaceutical companies, including that of GlaxoSmithKlein, and that he received at least $413,000 from multiple drug and medical device companies for mainly consulting and speaking fees. Carome called on the Senate to reject his nomination.
"When Gottlieb served as FDA deputy commissioner, he was recused from many key meetings and decisions due to his close relationship with industry," Carome said. "If the Senate does not reject Gottlieb, he will have to be recused from key decisions time and time again, otherwise there is no way to be sure he will put the public’s health over industry profits."
Pitts, however, contended that close ties to industry "are incredibly important."
"FDA has to be both a regulator of and ally with industry," Pitts said. "And I think Scott is the right guy to practice that nuanced relationship."
