Sarah J. Dash CEO, Alliance for Health Policy https://allhealthpolicy.org, held a fireside chat for reporters with Robert M. Califf, M.D. Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov to discuss his present and future priorities for the FDA.
One of his first priorities when he joined the Biden Administration, was to respond to the pandemic. As the administration moves forward, he reports that the agency will continue to develop additional responses to the pandemic and build on what is already known on how to respond and prepare effectively for public health emergencies.
One task high on the list is to strengthen the ability to counter misinformation about science especially the public’s ideas on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
Dr. Califf suggests a Call to Action to report evidence that is needed to make decisions as to what and what isn’t misinformation so effective evidence can be used to make decisions in order to provide the correct information. It is important for FDA to become more proactive to help the public get more accurate information based on science.
In respect to Clinical Trials, racial and ethical diversity can be present in clinical trials in some cases, so it is important to eliminate heath disparities when clinical trials are being conducted.
As for treating rare diseases, answers need to be made available on how to develop treatments to effectively treat rare diseases. Dr. Califf emphasized that answers on treating rare diseases requires the FDA to move into a new phase where answers can be quickly found.
He also mentioned that one of the top proprieties for FDA is to strengthen and develop prevention strategies for tobacco use. The FDA Center for Tobacco Products develops policy issue regulations, does research, and educates the public on tobacco products. The hope is to greatly encourage users to stop smoking
He also addressed how important it is to strengthen the nation’s food supplies in terms of ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply and at the same time, also inform the public on the benefits of good nutrition
The FDA Commissioner also discussed the issue related to the FDA User Fee Reauthorization bill recently passed by the House. The FDA User Fee package now awaits Senate action. Dr. Califf explained, how FDA will lack money to pay employees and as a result, the agency’s public health mission will be injured if new legislation isn’t passed to replace the current user fee agreement before it expires.