Posted by Michael Wonder on 09 Sep 2019
Former agency heads, health groups push for FDA’s Sharpless to be permanent commissioner
4 September 2019 - Supporters say he is the best candidate for the top FDA job.
The jockeying over who will be the next FDA commissioner intensified Tuesday when former agency heads and dozens of health groups urged the White House to nominate acting FDA chief Norman “Ned” Sharpless to become the agency’s permanent commissioner.
Supporters of Sharpless sent two letters — one from four former FDA commissioners and the other from more than 50 cancer and other groups — to President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. The letters had the same message: The FDA needs a permanent commissioner, and Sharpless should be nominated and confirmed to lead the agency.
