A day before the FDA's statement about its foreign inspection plans in response to Covid-19, on House Energy and Commerce Committee members are asking the agency for a comprehensive assessment of the outbreak's potential impact on US drug industry supply chains and on its impact on the agency's inspections.

A letter submitted on 9 March requested a briefing on the potential impact on the supply of drugs and other medical products in the US. It was signed by Chairman Frank Pallone, D-NJ, ranking member Greg Walden, R-OR, Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna Eshoo, D-CA, and ranking member Michael Burgess, R-TX, and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairwoman Diana DeGette, D-CO and ranking member Brett Guthrie, R-KY.

They "would like to know how many manufacturers, distributors, and importers might be affected by supply chain issues,""are "interested in FDA's ongoing work to combat shortages, including what the Agency is hearing from potentially affected" industries it regulates and "what steps it is currently considering or taking to reduce potential shortages."

Additionally, the committee's leadership wants an updated on Covid-19's resources. "To ensure the agency remains responsive and prepared, we would like to know more about FDA's resources, specifically, how existing resources are being used to account for this new challenge, how this will affect other vital operations at FDA, and whether the agency will need additional resources to meet supply chain demand."

Coronavirus Slams US Consumer Health Industry Event Schedules, FDA Meetings, Inspections

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