Drugs

Sen. Warner Wants Drug Making Moved Back to U.S

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) has written HHS urging it to develop a long-term plan to move pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the U.S. to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. “As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, I write to convey my significant alarm over American overreliance on Chinese — and foreign-manufactured pharmaceutical products and medical supplies and the consequent dangerous impacts — both for the health and well-being of Americans and for U.S. national security,” the lawmaker said in the letter.

Warner said that the U.S. reliance on Chinese and other foreign API manufacturing facilities during COVID-19 crisis is already beginning to compromise the U.S. drug supply, creating drug shortages and manufacturing quality problems. “Some countries have increased restrictions on the export of their pharmaceuticals to the United States and other countries as they work to protect their own populations,” he said. “For example, India recently decided to place restrictions on exporting Tylenol and the common antibiotic metronidazole to ensure Indian citizens have the pharmaceuticals they need.”

In the letter, Warner requested a briefing and a written response to several questions, including:

What actions has HHS taken to address the dependence on Chinese or other foreign manufacturers of drugs, APIs, or other pharmaceutical products and medical supplies and equipment since the outbreak of the COVID-19?
What is the strategy to ensure that Americans get the pharmaceuticals they need if significant shortages occur?
What drugs or ingredients cannot be made without supplies from China and other foreign countries?
What plan is in place to ensure that medical facilities, medical personnel and first responders have a reserve of necessary medical supplies and equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

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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