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Sen. Wyden Using Califf Nomination To Extract Accelerated Approval Reforms

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The unexpectedly tight fight to get Robert Califf confirmed as FDA commissioner is giving lawmakers additional leverage to extract commitments. However, the Senate Finance Chair may be overestimating FDA’s ability to swiftly pull accelerated approvals without new legislation.

boot on thin breaking ice
Califf’s nomination to lead FDA is on thin ice. • Source: Alamy

US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner nominee Robert Califf agreed to take fast and “strong action” to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for producing the scientific evidence required of accelerated approval drugs if confirmed for a second chance at leading the agency, a 4 February letter from Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden says. 

Califf made the pledge to take action within 30 days of assuming office during a recent meeting with the Democratic senator from Oregon. However, Wyden appears to be seeking an...

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Pink Sheet Podcast: US FDA’s Big Vaccine Policy Week

 
• By Derrick Gingery, Sarah Karlin-Smith, Sue Sutter, and Nielsen Hobbs

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the new clinical trial requirements that the FDA announced for COVID-19 vaccines, the updated label for Novavax’s newly approved COVID-19 vaccine, and other vaccine-related events that were part of a busy week for policy in the sector.

US FDA Punts On New COVID-19 Framework’s Impact On Fall Shots

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The FDA’s advisors split on whether to update COVID-19 vaccines for the fall. The agency refused to discuss the impact of the new vaccine framework on availability.

Non-User Fee Dollars Increased In US FDA’s Updated FY 2026 Budget Request

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The budget authority total, which is significantly higher than the amount floated in an April OMB draft document, suggests there may have been successful lobbying to increase FDA funding.

Legal, Process Problems May Plague New US FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The FDA may have violated laws and regulations along with many norms in how it released its planned changes for COVID-19 vaccine approvals.

More from Pink Sheet

Non-User Fee Dollars Increased In US FDA’s Updated FY 2026 Budget Request

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The budget authority total, which is significantly higher than the amount floated in an April OMB draft document, suggests there may have been successful lobbying to increase FDA funding.

US ‘Most Favored Nation’ Pricing Could be Game Changer for Drug Access In Germany

 
• By Francesca Bruce

In this first in a series of articles looking at the potential impact of the MFN drug pricing policy on European pharmaceutical markets, EUCOPE’s Alexander Natz tells the Pink Sheet why the US policy underscores the importance of confidential net pricing.

ICH Targets RWE, Rare Diseases, Biosimilars, ATMPs In New Guideline Push

 
• By Vibha Sharma

The International Council for Harmonisation has identified four new topics that can benefit from global regulatory alignment, with timelines for initiating work to be determined later.