Hahn Confirmation Hearing: Pharma May Be Left Parsing Non-Rx Questions For Policy Clues

US FDA commissioner nominee could face a slew of questions about non-drug issues such as e-cigarette regulation, which may mean pharma must read between the lines for insight into his drug-related policy stances.

US Capitol building at night
US FDA Commissioner nominee Stephen Hahn will face Senators during a confirmation hearing on 20 November. • Source: Shutterstock

Stakeholders may be mining US FDA Commissioner nominee Stephen Hahn's answers to questions about e-cigarettes and other non-pharma issues for clues about his drug policy stances.

Hahn almost surely will be asked some questions about drug development and approval during his 20 November confirmation hearing. However, several unrelated issues are dominating the headlines and may influence...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from US FDA

Prasad Says Involvement In US FDA Product Approvals Will Mirror Prior CBER Directors

 

The remarks from the new CBER director suggest Prasad will not be involved in most product-specific decisions.

US FDA Cell-Gene Therapy Head Says Agency Has Revived Stalled Programs

 

CBER's Nicole Verdun wants rare disease sponsors with stalled treatments to circle back because the FDA's evolved thinking on clinical trial designs may offer another opportunity for cast away products.

FDA’s FY 2026 Budget Request Lacks New Policy Proposals

 
• By 

The White House requested $6.8bn for the FDA, down 3.9% from the current funding level, but does not propose any legislative changes. In previous years, the agency used the budget process to seek statutory fixes specific to generic drugs and shortages.

User Fee-Funded Staff Would Drop In FY 2026 US FDA Budget

 

The reductions across medical product programs in the agency’s budget request include hundreds of positions funded by user fees, which may foreshadow its upcoming user fee restructuring strategy.

More from Agency Leadership

Drug, Biologic Policy Staff Return To US FDA, As RIF Process Hangs In Legal Limbo

 

The FDA employees with reduction-in-force notice rescissions include some who work on user fee negotiations, but staff still subject to RIFs will not officially separate from the agency this week due to ongoing legal challenges.

Pink Sheet Podcast: US FDA’s Private Pharma CEO Tour, HHS Changes COVID-19 Vaccine Advice

Pink Sheet reporter and editors consider the issues that could emerge during upcoming private FDA forums with pharma CEOs, as well as the impact of the surprising move by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit the CDC recommendation for annual COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

‘The Question Is, What’s Going To Happen Next?’ – The Future For Biosimilars In Europe

 
• By 

With European biosimilars developers buoyed by recent regulatory moves, Medicines for Europe’s Isabell Remus and Julie Maréchal-Jamil discuss the next steps forward for the industry.