Trade organizations welcome Califf appointment as FDA commissioner

Dr Califf led the Agency from February 2016 to the end of the Obama Administration after a year as the agency’s deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco, according to FDA’s website.  He was succeeded as commissioner by Dr Scott Gottlieb, MD.

Dr Califf received his MD at Duke University Medical School and served as a professor of cardiology at the school.  He founded and directed the Duke Clinical Research Institute at the school, which at the time he was first nominated to lead FDA had a budget of more than $320 million.

Several Republican Senators voted to confirm Dr Califf, including Sens. Blunt, Burr, Collins, Murkowski, Romney, and Toomey, while several Democrats and Independents voted against, including Sens. Blumenthal, Hassan, Markey, Manchin, and Sanders.  Not voting were Sens. Capito, Graham, and Lujan.

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Trade organizations active in the dietary supplement reacted positively to the news with a few caveats.

Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of the Natural Products Association, said the nomination comes as a critical juncture.

“We look forward to engaging him for a speedy resolution on NAC, CBD and ensuring the agency is using all the current tools at their disposal versus wasting the American taxpayers time on asking for new authorities with no benefit to public health,” ​said Dr Fabricant.

“Dr. Califf has previously stated that the agency has ample authority to regulate the dietary supplement marketplace, we look forward to working with him in that regard. We understand he even used NAC in his medical practice.”​

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