Posted by Michael Wonder on 15 Feb 2017
Pharma industry shuns Trump push for radical shift at FDA
15 February 2017 - U.S. President Donald Trump's vow to roll back government regulations at least 75% is causing anxiety for some pharmaceutical executives that a less robust FDA would make it harder to secure insurance coverage for pricey new medicines.
The prospect of big change at the regulatory agency comes as drugmakers are under fire for high prices, including Marathon Pharmaceuticals, which said Monday it was "pausing" the launch of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug after U.S. lawmakers questioned its $89,000 a year price.
Industry trade group Biotechnology Innovation Organization told Reuters that during high-level discussions with Trump advisors, lobbyists urged the administration not to name a new commissioner of the FDA who would act rashly to speed up the agency’s approval of new medicines.
