FDA Chief Will Not Lead Study on Drug Imports, Thompson Says in Reversal

[TacticalPeek]

Mar 10, 2004

FDA Chief Will Not Lead Study on Drug Imports, Thompson Says in
Reversal

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration, responding to complaints from lawmakers, decided not to go ahead with the appointment of the
government's food and drug regulator to lead a government study of importing drugs from Canada.

Tommy Thompson, health and human services secretary, told the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday that he was aware of the criticism of his decision last month to name Mark McClellan as chairman of a commission that is to report to Congress by December.

McClellan, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, has been a leading opponent of allowing drugs from abroad, citing concerns about
product safety. Lawmakers who want to ease Americans' access to cheaper drugs from abroad had criticized Thompson for tilting the study against
imported drugs by naming McClellan to the top job.

"I'm not going to designate Mark McClellan as chairman," Thompson told the committee.

more
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAMXY70ORD.html


Is that a flip or a flop?

:evilgrin: