Gottlieb calls for comparative standard for opioids during testimony

Outgoing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb called for the creation of a comparative effectiveness standard for approval of new opioids in testimony Thursday to a House Appropriations subcommittee.

In a Q&A with BioCentury this month, Gottlieb discussed working with Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director Janet Woodcock to impose such a standard so new opioids have differentiating characteristics to available drugs. "It might be more abuse deterrent, or maybe the delivery vehicle is differentiated in a way that's going to provide some therapeutic benefit over some existing opioid," Gottlieb said of potential drug characteristics (see "Gottlieb's Exit Interview")...