Second hold placed on Califf confirmation

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said Monday that he has placed a hold on the confirmation of Robert Califf as FDA commissioner as part of an effort to press FDA to restrict the use of opioids. Markey called for "FDA's commitment to convene advisory committees for any future opioid-approval questions; to consider addiction, abuse and dependence as part of its determinations of which opioids are 'safe;' and to rescind the approval of OxyContin for kids and convene an advisory panel to provide direction as it reconsiders that decision."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has also placed a hold on Califf's confirmation in an effort to force FDA to impose mandatory labeling requirements on genetically engineered salmon. ...