Von Eschenbach still in limbo

Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) places a hold on the nomination of Andrew von Eschenbach to be permanent FDA commissioner Nov. 16. The senator objects to von Eschenbach's "failure to comply with the committee's subpoenas over the past six months." In May, Grassley requested a briefing by senior FDA staff, a meeting with a line investigator and access to study data related to Sanofi-Aventis' Ketek (telithromycin) after allegations of data integrity problems in the antibiotic's NDA. Grassley is the third Senator to place a hold on the nomination, following Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). Senate Health Committee Chair Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) has vowed to work to lift the holds to allow for confirmation before Congress adjourns (1"The Pink Sheet" Sept. 25, 2006, p. 4)...