Senate's HELP schedules Califf vote

The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee said it will vote Jan. 12 on the nomination of Robert Califf as FDA commissioner. If passed, Califf's nomination will advance to the full Senate.

The committee generally supported Califf's nomination at a hearing in November, where Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) dismissed criticism of Califf's industry ties. Committee member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the only senator to express opposition to the confirmation, said he was not convinced Califf would do enough to lower drug prices (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 17). ...