Who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks?

U.S. senators Richard Burr (R, NC) and Tom Coburn (R, OK) recently partnered to introduce a new bill designed to improve FDA regulation of drugs and medical devices.  The Promoting Accountability, Transparency, Innovation, Efficiency and Timeliness at FDA (PATIENTS’ FDA) Act, would hold the FDA more accountable for its actions, calling for improvements in planning and management processes to forward regulatory science and requiring transparent reporting of annual progress against its own priorities and deadlines.

This year’s emerging “War on Women” – detailed by Bloomberg View columnist Margaret Carlson, has increasingly dominated headlines in recent months. Stories have shifted from insurance coverage of birth control to the role of working mothers. What is troublesome, however, are how some serious health issues affecting women have been overshadowed, due to lack of political backing.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is exploring new ways to improve patient access to important medicines and ensure these drugs are brought to market more quickly. This new effort by the FDA comes amid growing complaints over the last few years among drug companies, patient advocacy groups and lawmakers that the FDA approval requirements are far too prescriptive compared to other countries around the world. Read More