Government shutdown could hobble FDA

Political stalemate in Washington is raising the possibility of a partial government shutdown that could limit FDA’s ability to review NDAs. While the agency would be able to continue ongoing drug reviews during a shutdown, FDA could be barred from accepting new applications.

A stopgap federal funding bill expires Dec. 21. In a Dec. 10 televised meeting with House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), President Donald Trump raised the specter of a shutdown if Congress declined to fund a border wall. If all Senate Republicans support Trump’s demand, votes from an additional 10 Senate Democrats would be needed to secure funding for the wall. Pelosi and Schumer told Trump that their colleagues will not support the request. ...