Hamburg Expresses Pride in Stronger FDA, Worries About Funding, Unfunded Mandates

Margaret A. Hamburg, in her last formal speech as FDA commissioner, said March 27 she is proud that the FDA is a stronger agency now but is worried about its chronic lack of funding and attempts to alter its approval process.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, Hamburg said that today, the Food and Drug Administration approves drugs faster than any other advanced country and last year approved the most drugs in 20 years and the most drugs to treat rare medical conditions ever. “And we did this while remaining the ‘gold standard’ for safety and efficiency,” she ...