FDA chief defends collaboration in drug development

With the safety record of the FDA back in the spotlight due to the controversy over Avandia [1], FDA Commissioner Andrew Von Eschenbach was put on the defensive during a recent press conference as he insisted that a close working relationship with drug developers will create a safer drug system. Von Eschenbach was trying to explain that the agency is working to create a system that can do better than approve one out of every 10 prospective new drug that goes into testing.

"This is a collaboration, but it's not just a collaboration with drug companies, it's a collaboration with academia and with other agencies," Von Eschenbach said. "Everyone is an important stake holder and that's the point: we need to not be exclusive of any one of the important parts of the collaborative effort."

- check out the AP report [2] on Von Eschenbach

Related Articles:
FDA offers safety reforms to skeptical lawmakers. Report [3]
Senate toughens drug safety supervision in PDUFA bill. Report [4]