Warren and Sanders grill Obama nominee for FDA chief

[Omaha Steve]

Source: USA Today

Traci Badalucco

WASHINGTON – President Obama’s pick to head the Food and Drug Administration came under scrutiny Tuesday, but it wasn’t the Republicans who were complaining. Democrats sharply questioned Dr. Robert Califf on the affordability of costly pharmaceuticals and the hefty funding drug companies provided for clinical trials he oversaw at Duke University.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., taking time away from his presidential campaign, criticized what he called Califf’s inability to stand up to pharmaceutical companies who are “ripping off the American people.”

Americans pay the highest prices for drugs in the world, said Sanders, who advocated for re-importing drugs from Canada where he said they go for a fraction of the cost in the United States.

After listening to Califf’s testimony before the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, Sanders told him: “You still don’t get that. You are not strong enough on this issue” of affordability. Sanders said Medicare, the huge government insurer of older Americans, should have the right to negotiate drug prices for its customers.

FULL story at link.


(Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/17/warren-and-sanders-grill-obama-nominee-fda-chief/75957610/

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[randys1]

1. If Bernie says the guy isn't strong enough on the issue, then he isn't.

One upside to the end of the campaign season, if Bernie loses, is we can ALL go back to supporting his great efforts in the Senate.

[Maineman]

5. Yes. And NO. This is a movement. No going back. Keep pushing forward one way or another.

For example, if Hillary ends up being the president, she will need to be pushed very, very hard. She and the congressional mess that will most likely still be there, or accompany her.

[valerief]

3. Califf, big pharma's pet. nt

[7962]

4. Good. This position needs to be filled with the right guy nt

[SHRED]

6. “He is a great man,” said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

“And I think that stands out most in his qualifications.”

Translated: "He's a great man for my corporate donors".

[YOHABLO]

7. Hmm who is this Dr.Califf

Califf worked very closely with pharmaceutical companies at the Duke clinical trials center "convincing them to do large, expensive, and, for Duke, profitable clinical trials."[9] He was a paid consultant for Merck Sharp & Dohme, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly per ProPublica from 2009 to 2013. The largest consulting payment was $87,500 by Johnson & Johnson in 2012, and "most of funds for travel or consulting under $5,000", which has been called "minimal for a physician of his stature".[10] From 2013-2014 he was paid a total of $52,796, the highest amount was $6,450 from Merck Sharp & Dohme, followed by Amgen, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Daiichi Sankyo, Sanofi-Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca.[11] He was the Director of Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from July 2012 to January 26, 2015,[10] Advisor of Proventys, Inc., Chairman of the medical advisory board of Regado Biosciences, Inc. and has been member of the medical advisory board since June 2, 2009, and member of the clinical advisory board of Corgentech Inc.[12] Forbes wrote that his close ties to the drug industry were the reason for him not being nominated for the FDA Commissioner position in 2009.[9]

IS IT ANY SURPRISE FOLKS? DO YOU SEE THIS IS WHAT OBAMA DOES. HE PUTS THE FOX IN CHARGE OF GUARDING THE HEN HOUSE.

[KoKo]

8. Disgusting...! n/t

[cprise]

9. K&R

[jalan48]

10. And why is Obama pushing this guy?

[Doctor_J]

11. seems like the president's dropped all pretense of being a democrat

As many of us knew he would, as a lame duck.

[Scuba]

12. This is not the change I'd hoped for.

[bvar22]

13. SOP for President Obama,

appointing psychos, Republicans, Conservatives, Austerity Freaks, War Mongers, and Corporate Execs &Lobbyists to positions of power.

"Hope & Change" was a campaign slogan...nothing more.

[dmosh42]

14. Probably another 'pal' of the "third way" gang!

[Walk away]

15. So when is Warren going to endorse Bernie?????

Maybe she is waiting for tomorrows big Socialist speech!