FDA Policy/General

Public Confidence in FDA, Others Dropping: Survey

A survey conducted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) shows that public confidence in FDA and other U.S. health and science agencies has dropped across the board since the 1/20 inauguration of Donald J. Trump as president. An APPC news release says the shift is being driven by sharp declines in confidence among Democrats.

The results show that just 39% of Americans are confident that HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is providing trustworthy information on public health issues. The public actually has more confidence in former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci (57%), despite ongoing attacks and investigations conducted by Republicans.

On FDA, 63% of respondents said they were confident the agency was providing trustworthy information on public health issues, down 10% from 9/2024. Some 35% said they were not confident in FDA, an increase of 10% from the 2024 survey.

Comparable figures for CDC were 64% confident, down from 72%, and 36% unconfident, up from 28%. For the National Institutes of Health, the responses were 62% confident, down from 74% in 2024, and 38% unconfident, up from 26%.

People reported having the greatest confidence (86%) in their own doctor, nurse, or other primary healthcare provider, an unchanged percentage.

“Although confidence in these agencies remains comparatively high,” says APPC director Kathleen Hall Jamieson, “any drop in confidence, whether warranted or not, during a time when officials need to make consequential health decisions, is worrisome.”

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome