The chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Rick Scott, and ranking member Kirsten Gillibrand have announced a hearing to be held on Wednesday, September 17. The event will be titled “Prescription for Problems: Drug Safety, Supply Chains, and Risks to Aging Americans.”
The hearing aims to examine the risks associated with the quality of foreign-made generic drugs and how vulnerable pharmaceutical supply chains can impact both public health and national security. The committee will place particular emphasis on the dangers of overreliance on generics produced abroad, especially in China and India. The consequences of these quality shortcomings on older Americans will also be addressed.
Invited experts will testify on the urgent need to strengthen oversight by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including more rigorous testing and parity in foreign inspections. The importance of reshoring the domestic production of essential medicines will also be discussed. In addition, tragic cases involving adverse events linked to poor-quality generics will be presented, along with proposals to protect seniors.
Scheduled witnesses include Peter Baker, former FDA inspector and president of Live Oak Quality Assurance; George Ball, associate professor at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business; Brandon Daniels, CEO of Exiger; and Ronald T. Piervincenzi, CEO of the U.S. Pharmacopeia.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17 at 3:30 p.m. in the Hart Senate Building, room SH-216. The event will also be available via livestream.
“Prescription for Problems: Drug Safety, Supply Chains, and Risks to Aging Americans,” as announced by the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
