Advocacy at a Glance
Soon To Be Released: Alliance’s FDA Shutdown Toolkit. We are compiling all the information we have about the shutdown rules and who’s working. The result -- the Alliance’s FDA Shutdown Toolkit -- will be sent to everyone currently on the Friday Update mailing list. After that, we will be updating the Toolkit whenever we have compiled enough new information ... but hope, rather, that the shutdown is over before there is need for an updated edition. Meantime, until the Toolkit is ready, this week’s Analysis and Commentary provides answers to the questions we are being asked most often. Also, the Analysis and Commentary and Advocacy at a Glance from December 21 provides information that is still useful.If you received Friday Update directly from us, you are on the list and will receive the Toolkit. If you see this information on our web site or on social media or someone forwards it to you, contact Samantha Beard to be added to our Friday Update list. If the shutdown reminds you why FDA needs a strong, multi-stakeholder advocate, then consider joining the Alliance for 2019 by contacting Steven Grossman.Alliance to Host FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy. Alliance members and media are invited to our next meeting -- on Tuesday, January 29 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Our guest will be Anna Abram, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning, Legislation and Analysis at FDA. Her remarks should provide valuable insight into FDA’s priorities for 2019. To RSVP, click here.A Good Year for FDA. Lost in the shutdown: FDA had a good year. A lot was accomplished, and a number of year-end goals achieved (e.g., FDA approved 59 novel, first-in-class medicines, a record). Also, the Administration proposed a $400 million increase in agency funding, the most that we can remember. And this received a positive response from Congress, with the House proposing a $307 million increase for FDA and the Senate approving a $159 million increase. FDA can be proud that policymakers across the political spectrum support the agency’s vital mission.New Format for Friday Update. Long-time readers will recognize that the Friday Update has updated its look for 2019. We hope it makes it easier to read on both monitors and smart phones.