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Woodcock: COVID Is Not The Time For Structural Changes At US FDA

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock says FDA is interested in establishing new ‘Centers of Excellence’ but the current environment is not the right time to make changes at the agency. Woodcock also talked about where FDA will spend its new pandemic money and its reexamination of accelerated approval drugs in a wide-sweeping conversation with the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.

Janet Woodcock speaks at Alliance for a Stronger FDA
FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock speaks at the Alliance for a Stronger FDA on 14 April. • Source: Screenshot

Acting US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock cautioned against implementing disruptive changes at the agency right now due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that continues to leave its staff stressed and overworked.

Woodcock, speaking on 14 April to the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, was asked about the agency’s interest in establishing other “Centers of Excellence” like its Oncology Center of Excellence...

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