Scott Gottlieb ’s FDA Commissioner Confirmation Hearing: Remarkably Unremarkable

On Wednesday morning, the United States Senate Committee on Health, Energy, Labor, and Pensions conducted the confirmation hearing for Dr. Scott Gottlieb, President Trump’s nominee to be the next Commissioner of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). In a presidential administration whose confirmation hearings have sparked more than a few contentious moments, Dr. Gottlieb’s hearing was remarkable for how unremarkable it was. Senators from both parties asked questions on the full range of the FDA’s jurisdiction, and Dr. Gottlieb’s experience combined with his clear preparation for the hearing resulted in an uneventful, two-and-a-half hour hearing. But to say that Dr. Gottlieb’s hearing was uneventful is not to say that it was uninteresting. In my view, Dr. Gottlieb was asked about four categories of issues that are worth considering for insight into how is he is likely to lead the agency. Further, he was not asked about a fifth issue that in my view is critically important for the next commissioner. The FDA’s New Drug Approval Process First and perhaps most importantly, the issue of the FDA’s process and standards for approving new drugs played a central role in the hearing. Dr. Gottlieb mentioned it even in his opening statement, urging Congress to reject the “false dichotomy that it all boils down to a choice between speed and safety.” He was asked repeatedly about this idea by Senators on both sides of the aisle, and in doing so he aimed to strike a bal...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Drugs and Medical Innovation Featured FDA generic drugs opioid epidemic Source Type: blogs