Trump’s FDA Pick, Scott Gottlieb, Clears Committee And Heads To Full Senate Vote
Democrats have voiced concerns about Gottlieb's ties to the pharmaceutical industry, but the nominee has had a fairly smooth confirmation process thus far.
The Washington Post:
Trump Nominee To Head FDA Clears Key Panel, Moves To Full Senate For Vote
The Senate health committee voted 14-9 Thursday to approve physician Scott Gottlieb to be the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, sending the nomination to the full Senate. All 12 Republicans on the committee voted in favor of Gottlieb, a former venture capitalist who served as an FDA deputy commissioner during the George W. Bush administration. Two Democrats, Michael F. Bennet of Colorado and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, also voted yes. (McGinley and Bernstein, 4/27)
Stat:
Senate Committee Votes To Advance Scott Gottlieb's Nomination To Lead FDA
The vote was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the committee’s ranking Democrat, asked for a 24-hour postponement after receiving responses to paperwork relating to Gottlieb’s financial holdings less than an hour before the vote was to take place. Murray had previously complained of Gottlieb’s slow pace in responding to committee members’ questions for the record — a separate set of written clarifying questions they submitted after Gottlieb’s first hearing before the committee. (Facher, 4/27)
The Hill:
Trump's FDA Nominee Clears Key Senate Committee
Committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) lauded Gottlieb for his experience and dismissed concerns from some Democrats over any potential conflicts of interest from Gottlieb's ties to health companies. (Weixel, 4/27)
CQ Roll Call:
Health Panel Approves FDA Nominee For Senate Floor
Gottlieb was an FDA official during the George W. Bush administration. Since leaving the agency, he has worked for numerous pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology startups with interests in FDA policies and approvals. He has promised to resign from and divest from companies he currently works for or has a financial stake in, and said he will recuse himself from decisions involving any companies he’s been tied to for a year after confirmation. The Office of Government Ethics signed off on his nomination. (Siddons, 4/27)
