FDA announced February 4 that it is undergoing a “far-reaching action plan” to assess its approach to opioid medications in a bid to resolve one of the final obstacles blocking confirmation of Robert Califf as FDA Commissioner.

FDA approved Zogenix’ single-entity hydrocodone product following a negative advisory committee meeting, and is facing ongoing opposition as the drug’s launch begins. The agency argues the risk is consistent with other extended-release opioids – and abuse-deterrent technology is too new to require.

The Food & Drug Administration’s work on curbing abuse of long-acting opioids hasn’t lacked for outreach. The three-year long effort to develop a formal Risk Evaluation & Mitigation Strategy to help ensure appropriate use of products like Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin has involved input from two dozen different manufacturers, formal presentations by more than 75 outside stakeholder groups, and literally hundreds of public comments.