Pink Sheet Podcast: RFK’s First Actions, Pitch To Extend Current US FDA User Fee Agreement, More Trump Impacts

Pink Sheet editors and special guest Michael McCaughan of Prevision Policy discuss Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first act as HHS Secretary, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s suggestion that industry extend the existing user fee agreement rather than negotiate a new one, and President Trump’s policies impacting FDA advisory committee schedules and staffing.

Pink Sheet Executive Editor Derrick Gingery, Editor-in-Chief Nielsen Hobbs, and special guest Michael McCaughan of Prevision Policy look at new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first assignment, a presidential commission on reducing chronic disease (:29), as well as former US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s suggestion that industry extend the existing user fee program rather than negotiate a new agreement in the current political environment (13:30). They also discuss the impact of President Trump’s executive order mandating a reduction in force across the federal government on the US Food and Drug Administration and communications questions affecting the agency’s advisory committee schedule (25:16).

Citeline · Drug Fix: RFK’s First Actions, Pitch To Extend Current US FDA User Fee Agreement, More Trump Impacts

Pink Sheet Podcast: A New Director For US FDA’s Biologics Center, Guidance Production Slowdowns

09 May 2025

• By Derrick Gingery, Sue Sutter, and Nielsen Hobbs

Pink Sheet editors discuss the appointment of Vinay Prasad as the new director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and revelations that FDA layoffs now are hindering development of guidance documents.

Pink Sheet Podcast: Vaccine Review Political Interference, Missed Deadlines A Harbinger Of US FDA Problems?

02 May 2025

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

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss FDA Commissioner Martin Makary’s decision to have one of his assistants lead negotiations for Novavax’s delayed COVID-19 vaccine review, as well as some recent missed review deadlines, which may be the result of recent FDA cuts.

How Tumult At US FDA Could Impact Merger and Acquisition Strategy

01 May 2025

• By Joseph Haas and Nielsen Hobbs

With review and development uncertainly increasing, "it’s going to take longer for certain targets … to progress to a place where they’ve been derisked enough that big pharma is ready to write a big check," said Andrew Goodman of Paul Hastings.

Pink Sheet Podcast: More US FDA Departures, Makary On Combined AE Database, ‘Conditional’ Approval

25 Apr 2025

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

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the most recent senior staff departures at the FDA and their impact on the agency, as well as Commissioner Martin Makary’s plans for a new approval pathway and a combined adverse event database as outlined in an interview with a podcast host.

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

20 May 2025

• 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.

Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine Label Narrowed After Political Officials Intervened

20 May 2025

• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The label that Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine was slated to receive before political officials held up the approval was broader than was granted 16 May.

Biomarker Negativity At Issue In Pfizer Bid To Broaden Talzenna CRPC Claim

19 May 2025

• By Bridget Silverman

The FDA questioned Pfizer’s reliance on a “large, incompletely defined” subgroup of castration-resistant prostate cancer patients without known HRR gene alterations in its review of the proposed expansion of Talzenna’s first-line indication for HRR-mutated CRPC to an all-comers population.