After several lawmakers had declared the Trump administration's budget proposal dead on arrival, US FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb danced around the subject of user fees in his first congressional testimony has head of the agency.
Gottlieb Distances Himself From Trump's User-Fee Heavy Budget
New FDA commissioner passes on defending president's budget proposal during House appropriations subcommittee hearing. With Congress disinclined to reopen user fee negotiations, Gottlieb instead focuses on his priorities for agency.

More from Legislation
Republican congressional staffers could bring a wealth of experience and strong contacts with key legislators to the FDA ahead of the next user fee reauthorization process. But will Health and Human Services Department leadership interfere?
Not all companies will be able to access joint scientific consultations under the EU Health Technology Assessment Regulation, but success is still possible for those that engage with national agencies early on, says EUCOPE’s Alexander Natz.
The Clinical Trials Regulation was “supposed to harmonize” requirements in the EU, but instead it is giving some countries the chance to get ahead by offering faster approval timelines, notes Telethon’s head of regulatory affairs.
Industry likely wants Grace Graham to take the FDA’s top policy and legislative role, but she may be passed over for someone more tied to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s interests.
More from Pink Sheet
Experts say PBMs should become familiar with transparency rules and prepare to release data, although more legal wrangling could occur.
Optum Rx, one of the largest PBMs in the US, declared it was the “first comprehensive, transparent pharmacy services company” after announcing several consumer-friendly changes.
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary was sworn in Friday and knew of the plan that ultimately lead to CBER director Peter Marks' resignation on 28 March.