1. Pink Sheet

FDA Sidelines Chief Spokesperson As It Grapples With Fallout From COVID-19 Plasma Authorization

 
• By Brenda Sandburg

Emily Miller, who joined FDA a few days before its controversial roll out of emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma, remains at the agency. Situation shows importance of sticking to science-based decisions, former FDA officials say.

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FDA dealing with political firestorm after COVID-19 convalescent plasma authorization • Source: Shutterstock

The political firestorm engulfing the US Food and Drug Administration continues, with its chief spokesperson, Emily Miller, being sidelined following fierce criticism of the way the agency handled an emergency use authorization for COVID-19 convalescent plasma. The situation shows the consequences of FDA straying from its strictly science-based approach and the turmoil going on within the agency as it deals with pressures inside and outside the Trump Administration.

The sidelining of Miller, first reported by the New York Times, suggests she was being held accountable, at least in part, for the agency’s rollout of the emergency use authorization. FDA issued a terse one-sentence statement on 28 August: “Ms

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