DeLauro Reiterates Concern about Politics, Not Science Guiding Decisions at FDA

Presses agency to respond to inquiry on Drug & Device Approvals During Final Months of Bush Admin

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. -3) issued the following statement on the need to prioritize science at the Food and Drug Administration. A month ago, DeLauro wrote to FDA Acting Commissioner, Frank M. Totti, M.D. to request information on drug and device approvals made in the final months of the Bush Administration.

"It is troubling that the FDA has yet to respond to my request for information on drug and device approvals made at the end of the Bush Administration. For too long at the FDA, industry has had far too much influence – often at the expense of independent science. The agency should be as concerned as I am that this influence may have resulted in the approval of a number of products that later were proven to be unsafe and/or ineffective.

"It is time to change the culture at the agency to one that values science over ideology and politics. I am looking forward to FDA's response to my request for information."