FDA applying AIDS lessons to fight opioid epidemic

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Wednesday presented a vision for combating America’s opioid abuse epidemic that is reminiscent of the efforts that led to the development of effective AIDS treatments. He called for destigmatizing the condition and for basing policy on public health considerations and science rather than prejudice. Gottlieb vowed to use FDA’s regulatory flexibility to promote the development of novel medical responses to the problem.

Gottlieb announced new steps to expand access to treatments for opioid addiction. These include dramatic expansions of the labeled indications for medication-assisted treatments and publishing guidance to facilitate the development of new addiction treatments...