Obama’s FDA nominee criticised for big pharma ties
pharmafile | October 12, 2015 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Bernie Sanders, Dr Robert Califf, FDA
Democratic presidential nomination candidate Senator Bernie Sanders has criticised President Obama’s choice for the next FDA commissioner, as a result of ‘cosy’ previous ties to the pharma industry.
Sanders said he would oppose Dr Robert Califf’s appointment, based on his relationship with the industry. The criticisms include a reported $100,000 worth of consulting work in 2014, reported financial support from 20 pharma companies, and an alleged lack of commitment to helping lower drug prices for patients.
In a recent presentation, ‘Disrupting Clinical Research: Transforming a System,’ a slide presented by Califf read “regulation provides barrier to disruptive innovation.” Some Democrats in particular, including Sanders, believe this to be evidence of Califf’s unsuitability for the FDA’s top job.
“At a time when millions of Americans cannot afford to purchase the prescription drugs they need, we need a new leader at the FDA who is prepared to stand up to the pharmaceutical companies and work to substantially lower drug prices. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that Dr Califf is not that person,” Sanders says in a statement.
“Instead of listening to the demands of the pharmaceutical industry and their 1,400 lobbyists, it is about time that the FDA and Congress started listening to the overwhelming majority of the American people who believe that medicine is too expensive.”
The US Charity the AIDS Healthcare Foundation joined in the opposition, saying Califf’s “cosy relationship with the pharmaceutical industry is simply too close for comfort.”
President Obama announced in September that cardiologist Califf was his choice to succeed acting commissioner Stephen Ostroff, a physician who has held the post since April, upon the resignation of Margaret Hamburg, who was incumbent for six years.
The Obama administration released a statement in defence of Califf, saying he had dedicated his career “to advancing biomedical research, including the rigorous evaluation of the safety, efficacy and appropriate use of both new medical products and those already on the market.”
Joel Levy
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