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# Sen. Bernie Sanders Places Hold on Califf Nomination
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/sen-bernie-sanders-places-hold-on-califf-nomination/
- Published: 2016-01-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T02:31:04.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5134565

> Sen. **Bernie Sanders** (I-VT) has placed a hold on FDA commissioner-nominee **Robert Califf**’s confirmation because of his close ties to the pharmaceutical industry and lack of commitment to lowering drug prices. Sanders’ hold comes on the heels of a separate hold placed by Sen. **Edward J. Markey** (D-MA), who called for immediate reforms to the agency’s approval process for opioid painkillers ([see earlier story](https://www.fdaweb.com/sen-markey-places-hold-on-califf-nomination/)).  
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> “I also strongly believe that at a time when millions of Americans cannot afford to purchase the prescription drugs they require, we need a leader at the FDA who is prepared to stand up to the drug companies,” Sanders said in a [statement](http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-places-hold-on-fda-nominee?ref=fdaweb.com). “We need someone who will work to substantially lower drug prices, implement rules to safely import brand-name drugs from Canada and hold companies accountable who defraud our government.”   
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> Sanders is bothered by Califf’s past ties to the pharmaceutical industry. “He ran a multimillion-dollar clinical research center at Duke University that received more than 60% of its funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry,” Sanders said. “And his financial disclosure form last year listed seven drug companies and a device maker that paid him for consulting and six others – including Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly – which supported his university salary.”