Free Republic

President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested that his own FDA is making it difficult for drug companies to enroll people in clinical trials for vaccines and therapies to treat Covid-19, part of a "deep state" plot to hinder his re-election prospects. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd,” the president tweeted, tagging FDA Chief Stephen Hahn. “Must focus on speed, and saving lives!“ The president did not provide any evidence to support the accusation. Trump also tweeted that many doctors disagree with the FDA’s decision to revoke its emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine...

Abortion activists are not happy with the new leader of the Food and Drug Administration. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that Brett Giroir will serve as the acting FDA commissioner until the Trump administration’s nominee is confirmed, the pro-abortion site Rewire reports. Former FDA commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless recently returned to his role as director of the National Cancer Institute. Giroir, who, until recently, served as the assistant secretary for health under HHS, has been involved in the defunding of the Planned Parenthood abortion chain and the effort to stop taxpayer dollars from paying...

President Donald Trump is slated to sign the controversial "right-to-try" bill on Wednesday, which would bypass drug regulators to give gravely ill patients access to experimental medicines. The legislation allows patients with life-threatening conditions to ask drugmakers for medicines that have cleared some testing but still haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Previously, people would need to ask the FDA for access to experimental treatments. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had been major supporters of passing the measure, which supporters say gives patients hope they would not otherwise have. The House of Representatives approved the bill...

Alternative remedies like homeopathic treatments have become popular in recent years and now make up a $3 billion industry. But the Food and Drug Administration will begin scrutinizing products that could be dangerous to vulnerable populations. Many homeopathic remedies are derived from plants and claim to treat everything from the common cold to serious diseases. But the FDA fears that these products can "bring little to no benefit in combating serious ailments, or worse — may cause significant and even irreparable harm because the products are poorly manufactured, or contain active ingredients that aren’t adequately tested or disclosed to patients,"...

With the Las Vegas shooting dominating national news, and the awkward personal drama between President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson captivating Washington, it was easy to miss just how much policy unfolded in the past week. On the diplomatic front, Trump kicked out 15 Cuban diplomats, a response to the strange attack on American personnel in the American Embassy in Havana. And on Friday, a trio of agencies issued new rules that roll back Obamacare's birth control mandate. But there was more: Across government, agencies continued to undo Barack Obama’s legacy and usher in a new era...

After sustained lobbying from the packaged food and beverage industry, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday an indefinite delay in the launch of Nutrition Fact labels that were intended to help Americans eat more healthfully. The labels, championed by former First Lady Michelle Obama, were supposed to add a special line for “added sugars” and emphasize calorie content in large, bold text. They had been scheduled for rollout in July 2018, with a one-year extension for smaller manufacturers. The delay is the latest reversal of the Obama administration’s nutrition reforms under Trump. On April 27, the FDA also delayed...

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Scott Gottlieb, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Gottlieb, a former FDA director and deputy commissioner under former President George W. Bush, was confirmed in a 57-42 vote. He will replace Robert Califf, the acting FDA chief who was appointed last year by former President Barack Obama. “As a practicing physician with a wealth of policy experience, Dr. Gottlieb has the necessary qualifications to lead the FDA at this critical time,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday on the Senate floor.