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Acting Normal: US FDA's Unusual Interim Period Drags On

 
• By Michael McCaughan

The messaging around the US FDA commissioner transition has emphasized continuity and business-as-usual. But this is still all pretty weird.

FDA entrance sign 2016

During one of his first public appearances after taking over as acting commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, Ned Sharpless jokingly acknowledged a predecessor in the audience by claiming to be just the second person to pull of the "von Eschenbach maneuver”: moving to head FDA after serving as the Director of the National Cancer Institute.

Sharpless made the quip in the context of describing his efforts to meet with his predecessors at FDA to get...

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US FDA Teases Disclosure Program, But Industry Has Seen This Before

 
• By Derrick Gingery

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Vinay Prasad said Commissioner Martin Makary wants to release previously inaccessible FDA documents, but previous commissioners have made the same pronouncements only to make little progress.

US FDA Could Miss User Fee Spending Triggers With House FY 2026 Funding

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith and Derrick Gingery

FDA employees are concerned that while the budget authority total proposed for fiscal year 2026 meets the user fee appropriations' triggers, the FDA could have trouble meeting allocation triggers without cuts to non-review work.

US FDA May Consolidate Support Services After Extensive Cuts

 
• By Derrick Gingery and Sue Sutter

Commissioner Martin Makary told staff that plans are being developed to centralize HR, IT, travel and other functions, which were heavily impacted by the 1 April reduction-in-force.

US FDA’s Rising First-Cycle Complete Response Rate Draws Congress’ Attention

 
• By Sue Sutter

The House Appropriations Committee wants an analysis of how issues that led to CRLs could have been resolved within the first review cycle and seeks an agency crackdown on counterfeit GLP-1 agonists.

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ACIP Upheaval Leaves Merck & Co. In A Lurch

 
• By Jessica Merrill and Bridget Silverman

Merck’s newly approved Enflonsia for RSV is one of the products expected to be recommended for use by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices later this month.

US FDA Chief Counsel Position Awaits HHS General Counsel Confirmation

 
• By Sue Sutter

Robert Foster, HHS deputy general counsel and chief counsel for food, research and drugs, is temporarily heading the Office of Chief Counsel, but a permanent appointee is expected after Michael Stuart's confirmation as HHS general counsel.

HHS Secretary Favors Regenerative Medicine Over Traditional Pharma: Blessing And Curse?

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Cell and gene therapy developers may not have to contend with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s animosity like the traditional pharma industry, but his disinterest in distinguishing between the good and bad actors in the space could backfire.