FDA Stresses Stability In Wake Of Commissioner’s Resignation
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
FDA leadership is telling agency staff that operations will not be disrupted by the departure of Commissioner Lester Crawford after just two months in the permanent position
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FDA leadership is telling agency staff that operations will not be disrupted by the departure of Commissioner Lester Crawford after just two months in the permanent position. President Bush named National Cancer Institute Director Andrew von Eschenbach as acting FDA commissioner following Crawford's Sept. 23 resignation. "In the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with FDA's senior staff and all of the center directors to ensure a smooth transition so the important work of this agency will continue on schedule," von Eschenbach said in a Sept. 26 memo to FDA staff. Although Crawford served as permanent commissioner for only 10 weeks, his July confirmation followed a year and a half as acting commissioner. He was also acting commissioner for 10 months in 2002. In a separate memo, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt praised von Eschenbach while emphasizing the experienced staff remaining at the agency. "I have great confidence in Dr. von Eschenbach and in the experienced leadership team that will be working with him in FDA's Office of the Commissioner and Center Directors," Leavitt said. A third staff memo from Deputy Commissioners Scott Gottlieb, Janet Woodcock, and Murray Lumpkin and Associate Commissioner for Legislation Patrick Ronan reiterated the agency's commitment to existing initiatives. "We have a lot of important work to do to continue to ensure that we bring safe and effective new medical products to patients who need them, that we communicate clearly with consumers, patients and physicians so they have the best information available to make well-informed decisions, and that we continue to take new steps through our Critical Path initiative," the memo stated. The change of leadership is not expected to have a noticeable effect on the cosmetics industry, according to Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association President Pam Bailey. More pressing agency issues will include funding levels for the Office of Cosmetics and Colors, which likely will be impacted by the need for increased government spending in other areas in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she noted during a session at the Health & Beauty America conference Sept. 27-29 in New York City. |