WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today highlighted two reports released this week by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO). Both reports highlight improvements the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to make, one calling for more strategic planning for its scientific initiatives, and one calling for more comprehensive planning to enhance the coordination between medical product centers.
“From the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) to the 21st Century Cures Act, we have continued to prioritize the importance of FDA keeping pace with the breathtaking advancements in biomedical research and technology," said Chairman Upton. “Numerous provisions in Cures would help equip the agency with the tools and expertise it needs to implement these necessary reforms."
Additionally, Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced H.R. 5414, the FDA Cross-Center Collaboration Act of 2016 last week. This bipartisan bill will encourage collaboration at the FDA by modernizing the agency and help streamline the review of drugs and devices for major disease areas across product centers.
“These are commonsense reforms that would safely streamline the #Path2Cures for patients and their loved ones," added Upton.
