Von Eschenbach FDA Commissioner Nomination Clears Committee; Help From Hatch On Holds?
This article was originally published in The Pink Sheet Daily
Executive Summary
Health Chairman Enzi hopes to avoid a recess appointment.
|
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) plans to work toward the release of Republican holds on the nomination of FDA Acting Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, the lawmaker said the same day the nominee cleared the Senate Health Committee. Holds by David Vitter (R-La.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) remain the main obstacles to confirmation; the committee approved his nomination by a voice majority vote during a Sept. 20 markup. Hatch predicted the Bush administration would likely use a recess appointment if von Eschenbach does not receive a floor vote. The senator made his comments to reporters at the Generic Pharmaceutical Association Annual Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. During a press briefing following the committee markup, Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said he hopes von Eschenbach will not be confirmed as a recess appointment, but will receive a full Senate vote. Vitter has said he plans to block the nomination until FDA allows reimportation of drugs manufactured in the U.S., while DeMint seeks the removal of abortion drug RU-486 from the market (1 (Also see "Von Eschen-Blocked? New Holds Emerge From The Right" - Pink Sheet, 15 Sep, 2006.)). Senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) dropped their hold on von Eschenbach when FDA approved Barr's emergency contraceptive Plan B for OTC sale to people age 18 and older. Asked if he thought it is ironic that first Democrats placed a hold on von Eschenbach and now Republicans have, Enzi said, "It's the nature of the position." Von Eschenbach is in a "Catch-22," he said. "FDA commissioner has to be the toughest thing besides a Supreme Court justice to get passed around here," he added. However, the nomination process should be "based on science," Enzi said. If politicians "move away from science it becomes more of a political football," he added. Enzi praised von Eschenbach, stating a better candidate could not be found. -Rebekah Moan ([email protected]) [Editor's note: This story appears courtesy of the editorial staff of 2 'The Tan Sheet', your source for coverage of nonprescription pharmaceuticals and nutritionals. For a sample copy, call customer service at 800-332-2181.] |