Former Sidley Austin partner and product liability specialist Rebecca Wood has been named FDA chief legal counsel. Wood represented multiple life science clients during her nearly 17 years at Sidley, and notably penned briefs in two highly watched U.S. Supreme Court product liability/federal preemption cases, Warner-Lambert v. Kent, Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc . and Wyeth v. Levine.
She replaces Liz Dickinson, who rose to that role through the ranks of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel. Dickinson directed the agency’s recent issuance of a controversial FDA memo defending the agency's oversight of off-label communication. Public Health Interests and First Amendment Considerations Related to Manufacturer Communications Regarding Unapproved Uses of Approved or Cleared Medical Products, issued in the final days of the Obama administration, reasserted FDA's stance against off-label communication, which has been opposed by industry and First Amendment advocates for years.
Does the appointment of Wood mean a turn-about on the agency’s views on off-label communication? Watch this space for more details.
She replaces Liz Dickinson, who rose to that role through the ranks of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel. Dickinson directed the agency’s recent issuance of a controversial FDA memo defending the agency's oversight of off-label communication. Public Health Interests and First Amendment Considerations Related to Manufacturer Communications Regarding Unapproved Uses of Approved or Cleared Medical Products, issued in the final days of the Obama administration, reasserted FDA's stance against off-label communication, which has been opposed by industry and First Amendment advocates for years.
Does the appointment of Wood mean a turn-about on the agency’s views on off-label communication? Watch this space for more details.
