Halfway through the first year of the biosimilar user fee program, fee payments have not lived up to the expectation in President Obama’s FY 2013 budget request. Initial meetings continue to grow but at a slow pace, suggesting sponsors may remain hesitant about the pathway.

Pink Sheet reporters and editor discuss President-Elect Joe Biden’s decision to name the CDER director as acting FDA commissioner and other staffing changes, as well as changes to industry trade groups’ political donations.

Agency has been prepping Woodcock for the temporary task but what will happen to her role on Operation Warp Speed remains unclear. The move should give Biden team cushion to confirm a permanent leader of whom a top contender is former senior FDA staffer Joshua Sharfstein, a proponent of drug reforms that may irk manufacturers.