Markey blasts FDA opioid policy

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said he would continue to oppose Robert Califf's nomination for FDA commissioner unless FDA agrees to hold advisory committee meetings for all opioid candidates. In a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Markey said he was disappointed that FDA's new Opioids Action Plan "inexplicably" commits the agency to hold committee reviews only of non-abuse-deterrent opioids (see BioCentury Extra, Feb. 4).

Markey released an analysis showing that FDA held advisory committee meetings for only four of 11 abuse-deterrent opioids approved since 2010, and said the new plan would represent the status quo...