Sanders Opposes FDA Chief Nominee Over Ties to 'Greedy' Big Pharma

[KoKo]

Why would PBO even consider this guy?

--------

Friday, October 09, 2015
by Common Dreams

While at Duke, Robert M. Califf received millions in funding and salary support from Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, and other drug companies
by
Nadia Prupis, staff writer

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Friday said he would vote against President Barack Obama's nomination to head up the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), citing Dr. Robert M. Califf's ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Califf, a cardiologist and Duke University researcher, became FDA deputy commissioner earlier this year, and Obama announced plans to nominate him as the agency's chief last month. But in light of several recent industry scandals that brought national attention to price gouging of life-saving medications, Sanders—who is running for president as a Democrat—on Friday said he would not support the status quo when the vote comes before the U.S. Senate health committee.


"At a time when millions of Americans cannot afford to purchase the prescription drugs they need, we need a new leader at the FDA who is prepared to stand up to the pharmaceutical companies and work to substantially lower drug prices. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that Dr. Califf is not that person," Sanders said following a meeting with the nominee this week.

A recent exposé by the New York Times revealed that Califf's multi-million dollar research center at Duke received more than 60 percent of its funding from the industry, while his 2014 financial disclosure documents showed drug companies like Eli Lilly, Merck, and Novartis paid him hefty fees for "consulting" and in salary support. And as the Boston Globe reported on Wednesday, Califf also took the "highly unusual" step of removing his name from a series of scientific papers criticizing the FDA's oversight of clinical trials—"a decision that could raise ethical concerns," explains the Globe's Sheila Kaplan.

"In a sense, he's the ultimate industry insider," Daniel Carpenter, a Harvard political science professor, told the Times.

"The greed of the pharmaceutical industry is a public health hazard to the American people," Sanders said. "That has got to change."

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/10/09/sanders-opposes-fda-chief-nominee-over-ties-greedy-big-pharma

[cantbeserious]

1. When We Stand Together - No Citizen Need Settle For Corporate Evil - Go Bernie Go

eom

[ibegurpard]

2. "Why would PBO even consider this guy?"

For the same reason he puts charter-school pushers in charge of education. Like other 3rd-way "Democrats" he believes that private enterprise is the best way to handle everything.

[truedelphi]

4. Why shouldnt he think that way -

The international charity he will be given to oversee will boast even greater contributions than Bill Clinton's. Totaling even more billions of dollars.

And he probably will end up getting way more than Bill's $ 250,000 per speech in front of corporate podium.

[azmom]

3. Bernie fighting for us again.

Give them hell Bernie! We got your back.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, KoKo.

[hifiguy]

6. Kick!

[artislife]

7. Big Pharma and Medical Insurance companies= vile entities

The business seems to be on the side of good, but their practices is pure shite.