Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Gets Its Biggest Boost In At Least Five Year From Draft Spending Deal
Stat: Draft Spending Deal Includes Largest Boost For FDA In Five Years
A government funding deal released late Wednesday includes $269 million in new funding for the Food and Drug Administration, which would represent the largest increase the agency has seen in at least five years. With that new funding, the FDA would receive $3.08 billion in government funding for fiscal year 2019. Coupled with roughly $2.5 billion in fees from drug, device, and other regulated companies, FDA’s total budget would be $5.67 billion. (Swetlitz and Florko, 2/14)
In other news from the agency —
Stat: Lawmakers Question FDA On Contaminants In Blood Pressure Drugs
As recalls mount for blood pressure drugs with potential cancer risks, a congressional committee wants the Food and Drug Administration to explain steps taken to contain the issue and, more broadly, to ensure that overseas manufacturers are not jeopardizing the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. In a letter to the agency, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce expressed specific concerns about the ability to oversee foreign suppliers in the wake of an ongoing probe into a class of medicines known as angiotensin II receptor blockers, notably, valsartan. (Silverman, 2/14)
