FDA Chief Won't Lead Canada Drug Study

[Guest guest]

Why would we believe anything McClellan says now .... he realized he " might not

get the job because of his views " so now will change them to fit what ever it

takes to get the job .... once in there .... that is a different story ....

 

 

FDA Chief Won't Lead Canada Drug Study

 

 

Wed Mar 10, 5:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON - 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 (news - web

sites), 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.

 

McClellan, meanwhile, also reversed course and said he planned to appear

Thursday before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to

answer questions about the importation issue.

 

As a result, McClellan's confirmation as the administrator of the federal

agency that runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs was expected to move ahead.

 

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he would block Senate confirmation until

McClellan answered questions about importation of drugs from Canada.

 

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