Califf Closer to Being Appointed FDA Commissioner

New York Times – A Senate committee voted unanimously to approve Dr. Robert M. Califf, a cardiologist and clinical trial expert from Duke University, as FDA commissioner but full Senate approval is unlikely to happen soon.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska-R) plans to block his candidacy because FDA approved a genetically engineered salmon for consumption days after she questioned him on the topic at his confirmation hearing in November, and a spokesman for Senator Bernie Sanders of (Vermont-D) said he was also considering a hold because Dr. Califf had not done enough to stop the rise in drug prices.

Additionally, Dr. Califf has been a consultant to drug companies and ran a research institute that received most of its funding from the industry. Public health groups and some Democrats said those ties raised concerns that he was too close to the industry he was being called on to regulate, but many medical experts dispute that, saying the drug industry is a principal funder of U.S. research  and working with companies does not present an inherent conflict.

Read the full story at NY Times.