With proposed changes to the ACA, pretty soon no one will be able to afford drugs anyway so I guess his ties to Big Pharm are a moot point. Those with insurance never pay the full price for drugs, and the rest (without insurance) may finally have to focus on eating more healthfully and exercising.
7
Diet and exercise won’t save you from your genes, although they can help with management. Pharmaceuticals have their place and we shouldn’t give up on making them affordable for those who need them.
6
No wonder Trump needs an extended period to "figure out what the hell is going on" with our vetting process of refugees.
The so-called president clearly has no idea how to even vet the staff for his own cabinet and agencies.
The so-called president clearly has no idea how to even vet the staff for his own cabinet and agencies.
14
This man said he would not allow drug "re-importation" because he can't guarantee the safety of the medicines. I never understood why pharma companies in the US are allowed to ban all imports of drugs by anyone other than these pharma companies. This allows US pharma companies to have drug prices the highest in the world. Worse, by law Medicare is not allowed to negotiate prices for drugs. Albuterol inhaler costs $55 in the US without insurance and an average of $20 with copay. In India the same inhaler by Glaxo Smith-Kline costs $1.35! Why? when they went for CFC free propellant US was the only country in the world to put the drug back as patented for 15 years. No generics. Now we have drama in congress about who will pay for the health insurance. If prices were brought down, most middle class would be able to afford medicines and health insurance. Everything we eat is imported but not medicines. If Bernie was elected things would have been different.
17
"Science-based"? How about an actual scientist -- preferably one with an MPH among their credentials? Anyone with actual patient-centered public health experience knows that we're looking for scientifically and sociologically rigorous evidence-based practice. Anyone with such strong ties to the industry is more likely to be the whiz kid behind the next inadvertent "crush proof" OPANA HIV epidemic.
I hope for all our sakes that Mr. Gottlieb is not another nail in the coffin of administrative expertise, akin to the terrifyingly deadly Scott Pruitt. As with climate change at EPA, the stakes at FDA are too high. If we aren't killed by rising seas, a resurgence of industrial pollution, or the new normal freak superstorms, we surely will be by an antibiotic resistant UTI, STI or minor scrape turned sepsis. New antibiotics or essential medicines like naloxone will never be the blockbusters that some slightly tweaked biologic or statin will be (nor should they, dear pharma profiteers), but that's all the more reason we need competence and expertise in our administrative agencies. Government is not a business; when done well and in good faith, it is a much higher calling. Dying from newly drug-resistant infections in the 21st century for some deregulatory, pro-business orthodoxy truly will be the banality of evil.
I hope for all our sakes that Mr. Gottlieb is not another nail in the coffin of administrative expertise, akin to the terrifyingly deadly Scott Pruitt. As with climate change at EPA, the stakes at FDA are too high. If we aren't killed by rising seas, a resurgence of industrial pollution, or the new normal freak superstorms, we surely will be by an antibiotic resistant UTI, STI or minor scrape turned sepsis. New antibiotics or essential medicines like naloxone will never be the blockbusters that some slightly tweaked biologic or statin will be (nor should they, dear pharma profiteers), but that's all the more reason we need competence and expertise in our administrative agencies. Government is not a business; when done well and in good faith, it is a much higher calling. Dying from newly drug-resistant infections in the 21st century for some deregulatory, pro-business orthodoxy truly will be the banality of evil.
16
One question people might want to ask themselves - should the safety standards and testing for a drug that might only be used by 10,000 people a year be the same as for a drug that might be used by more than 10,000,000 people a year? Obviously the risk for the latter is 1,000 times greater than the former? Or should drugs be more quickly approved for a limited use under carefully controlled conditions, and only fully approved after several years of careful monitoring? Not all the questions about the present drug approval process are straight forward and trivial.
5
Wow. I know this guy. Him being in charge of the FDA is like . . . I guess it makes it sense.
3
With a quick look at Dr. Gottlieb on Wiki, I saw that "Gottlieb worked as a healthcare analyst at the investment bank Alex. Brown & Sons in Baltimore." Then "He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and is a graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he received a medical degree, and of Wesleyan University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in economics." That is just the start.
He must be a smart man. But what is there in his history to make anyone think that he really wants to serve our country for the benefit of the citizens? Look deeper. I am discouraged.
He must be a smart man. But what is there in his history to make anyone think that he really wants to serve our country for the benefit of the citizens? Look deeper. I am discouraged.
6
Dr. Gottlieb is "interest conflicted" and has stuffed his pockets with "$400,000 in payments from pharmaceutical firms" in just two years. They didn't write out those checks because he's a swell guy and great family doctor. He's a sell out, and now they're getting their money's worth. It's the rest of us who will be cheated.
12
Didn't take long for "drain the swamp" to become "revolving door."
4
Imagine my surprise... Say goodbye to food labeling and consumer protections.
Our government agencies have been sold to industry. The FDA has always been in bed with Big Pharma and Big Ag, but now they won't even try to maintain a pretense. Wake up people this is what we are reaping when we have let big corporations run this country. We are now turning into a corporatist govt.
Our government agencies have been sold to industry. The FDA has always been in bed with Big Pharma and Big Ag, but now they won't even try to maintain a pretense. Wake up people this is what we are reaping when we have let big corporations run this country. We are now turning into a corporatist govt.
12
Yet another candidate prepared to significantly stifle or even destroy the agency that they are selected to head. Taking an axe to the regulations that oversee the food we eat and the medicines we take will do nothing but provide our citizens with the opportunity to play Russian Roulette at each meal as well as with each dose of prescribed medicine.
This has been the case at : The State Department. The Department of Education. The EPA. The Department of Energy , and now the USDA and FDA as well.
Restrictions that work toward ensuring clean air and water , eradicated along with any pretense that climate change is real. Mr. Pruitt has announced , contrary to the virtually world wide opinion of the scientific community , that CO2 does no harm to the atmosphere.
Financial regulations stripped and the banks relieved of common sense rules protecting their customers from the venalities of Wall Street.
The free press shut out and a new flood of alternate facts emanating from the early morning tweets and the press conferences that cater exclusively to a chosen audience.
None of this bodes well for a free and open Democracy.
Nor does the evidence being compiled regarding the manipulation of the recent election by Russian intelligence and coupled with campaign connections to that Russian intelligence and the many ties to Russia exhibited by the Trump family and folks such as Tillerson , Flynn , Manafort , et. al.
Orwellian to say the least .
Just what is going on ?
This has been the case at : The State Department. The Department of Education. The EPA. The Department of Energy , and now the USDA and FDA as well.
Restrictions that work toward ensuring clean air and water , eradicated along with any pretense that climate change is real. Mr. Pruitt has announced , contrary to the virtually world wide opinion of the scientific community , that CO2 does no harm to the atmosphere.
Financial regulations stripped and the banks relieved of common sense rules protecting their customers from the venalities of Wall Street.
The free press shut out and a new flood of alternate facts emanating from the early morning tweets and the press conferences that cater exclusively to a chosen audience.
None of this bodes well for a free and open Democracy.
Nor does the evidence being compiled regarding the manipulation of the recent election by Russian intelligence and coupled with campaign connections to that Russian intelligence and the many ties to Russia exhibited by the Trump family and folks such as Tillerson , Flynn , Manafort , et. al.
Orwellian to say the least .
Just what is going on ?
16
Dr. Gottlieb is at the bottom of the batting order--he only received $400,000 from the industry that he is now to oversee. In the "populist" Trump White House this pittance practically makes him St. Francis.
11
Get medical help right away when we develop any of the side effects: skin rash/swelling/blisters, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle ache, brain damage, depression, desparation, suicidal thoughts . . . .
Sounds familiar, right?
Sounds familiar, right?
8
Drug prices were skyrocketing upwards under previous administrations. To add to the long list of Mr. Trump's lies, he promised to make drug prices decrease. Now Dr. Gottlieb, a pharmacology venture capital fund manager, is installed into the position of leader of the FDA. Just what do we think will happen? This is draining the swamp? We already knew Trump was adding alligators on steroids. Mergers and Acquisitions will also spiral with nothing but encouragement from the FDA. It's already proven in Big Pharma, just like airlines, cable communications, and cell phone suppliers that mergers are always bad for the consumer, often lead to layoffs, usually create bigger profits for industry.
An ugly little secret. When they start bragging about the FDA changes leading to improvements in GNP from medical industry profits the data probably won't include any benefits at all in labor income. Rich get richer; blue collar stays the same as it was before Trump.
An ugly little secret. When they start bragging about the FDA changes leading to improvements in GNP from medical industry profits the data probably won't include any benefits at all in labor income. Rich get richer; blue collar stays the same as it was before Trump.
14
I find it interesting how the NY Times and its supporters always get in a knot over some Republican appointee having any sort of ties to the industry that the agency they may work for oversees. On the flip side, under the Democrats, the Labor department is full of union lawyers and activists; the EPA is full of environmental activists from the Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Fund; and the Treasury and Commerce Departments are full of academic economists who have never actually had to write an employee's paycheck at any point in their lives.
I propose that from now on, a person cannot be appointed or take a civil service position in an agency if they (or any member of their family out two generations) have ever been associated with an organization or business who the the agency oversees, is lobbied by, or has anything to do with the agency's purview. After they leave the position, they can never be associated with any organization in the area the agency oversees again for the rest of their lives and no member of their family can be associated with the area either. How does that sound?
I propose that from now on, a person cannot be appointed or take a civil service position in an agency if they (or any member of their family out two generations) have ever been associated with an organization or business who the the agency oversees, is lobbied by, or has anything to do with the agency's purview. After they leave the position, they can never be associated with any organization in the area the agency oversees again for the rest of their lives and no member of their family can be associated with the area either. How does that sound?
3
Trump's next appointment: Willie Sutton for banking commissioner.
6
Drain what swamp, again?
8
If this statement isn't emblematic of this entire Trump administration: Dr. Gottlieb is “the least problematic of a very sorry pool of candidates.”
That about sums it all up.
Well, Dr. Gottlieb believes in science, and served at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a senior official focused on new medical technologies. That's heartening.
That he wants to rush studies on new drugs isn't heartening at all.
Especially given his deep ties to Big Pharma.
We keep hearing more dirt on former adviser Mike Flynn, and how Trump and Pence knew nothing about anything anytime all along.
It is laughably absurd how stupid they think we all are.
Its Dick Nixon without the tapes.
That's what you get, red states, when you elect a president with zero experience, aptitude or awareness of government and its functions.
Trump still doesn't comprehend the state department is terribly understaffed.
They just fired the Obama attorneys at Justice. A purge. Because of paranoia. Trump and Sessions are poster boys for raging paranoia.
Another corporate type, Rex Tillerson, looks like a deer in the headlights each time he emerges. Won't respond to press questions and has no staff nor department. A foreign dignity arrived to the US, and didn't even meet with the State Department. There are no rules or protocols anymore.
And we are supposed to trust Trump with the FDA now.
Eee gads.
That about sums it all up.
Well, Dr. Gottlieb believes in science, and served at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a senior official focused on new medical technologies. That's heartening.
That he wants to rush studies on new drugs isn't heartening at all.
Especially given his deep ties to Big Pharma.
We keep hearing more dirt on former adviser Mike Flynn, and how Trump and Pence knew nothing about anything anytime all along.
It is laughably absurd how stupid they think we all are.
Its Dick Nixon without the tapes.
That's what you get, red states, when you elect a president with zero experience, aptitude or awareness of government and its functions.
Trump still doesn't comprehend the state department is terribly understaffed.
They just fired the Obama attorneys at Justice. A purge. Because of paranoia. Trump and Sessions are poster boys for raging paranoia.
Another corporate type, Rex Tillerson, looks like a deer in the headlights each time he emerges. Won't respond to press questions and has no staff nor department. A foreign dignity arrived to the US, and didn't even meet with the State Department. There are no rules or protocols anymore.
And we are supposed to trust Trump with the FDA now.
Eee gads.
16
Its really ease to speed up drugs getting to the market.
1) Slash the requirement to prove effectiveness.
2) Legally limit the liability of drug manufacturers.
3) Introduce alternate methods of negotiating "conflict" which gives pharma the upper hand and the consumers nothing- except a gag order.
Ta-da! You have a cost-efficient FDA the industry is happy to support. Patients that get sick or die- well, tough nuggets for them and their family.
1) Slash the requirement to prove effectiveness.
2) Legally limit the liability of drug manufacturers.
3) Introduce alternate methods of negotiating "conflict" which gives pharma the upper hand and the consumers nothing- except a gag order.
Ta-da! You have a cost-efficient FDA the industry is happy to support. Patients that get sick or die- well, tough nuggets for them and their family.
12
From Stat News: "A little-noticed bill moving through Congress would allow companies to require employees to undergo genetic testing or risk paying a penalty of thousands of dollars, and would let employers see that genetic and other health information."
I believe this is or potentially is to be part of one of the ACA replacement installments to roll out.
If true, this needs to out their in the media for the public to see. It is totally unacceptable.
I believe this is or potentially is to be part of one of the ACA replacement installments to roll out.
If true, this needs to out their in the media for the public to see. It is totally unacceptable.
22
What a surprise! A man dedicated to more profits for drug companies.
25
"Government of greed, by greed, for greed, shall not perish from the Trump Administration...."
20
A venture capitalist, a member of the American Enterprise Institute, a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal editorial pages and Forbes, whose views on drug approval, medical devices, the ACA, health insurance, and regulation are entirely predictable, Dr. Gottlieb is the very model of a free-market ideologue.
If confirmed, the chances of a new Thalidomide disaster will increase markedly.
If confirmed, the chances of a new Thalidomide disaster will increase markedly.
60
The the taxpayers will be told to pay for the victims while Gottlieb and frieds take the profits.
7
Regrettably, the scaling back of industry regulations, whether by the FDA, the EPA or elsewhere will likely end up hurting a lot of people. On the flip side, investors and the wealthy will see their riches enhanced even further by deregulation. Even more regrettably, it will take a lot of people getting hurt by the Trumpublicans to convince their voting constituency that they are only hurting themselves by continuing to lend these anti-populists their political support. In this perverse way, we have to hope that Trump and his minions are successful in order that they may be hoist by their own petard. The situation is beyond reasoning.
24
The conflicts of interest that surround Trump and the rest of his swamp dwellers is simply breathtaking.
57
Another fox guarding the hen house. Just don't get sick and all is OK!
30
"If we slash the restraints, not just at the F.D.A. but across our government, then we will be blessed with far more miracles..."
(Happy to hear about Megan but) Given that Trump selected him, I have to assume that by "we" he means "us cronies," and by "miracles" he means "huge piles of money."
(Happy to hear about Megan but) Given that Trump selected him, I have to assume that by "we" he means "us cronies," and by "miracles" he means "huge piles of money."
19
Given that Gottlieb's competition, Jim O'Neill, "has argued that companies should not have to prove that their drugs work in clinical trials before selling them to consumers," I guess we should feel a bit of relief for this nomination. Oh, the power of lowered expectations.
41
Here we go again. Colonel Sanders, in charge of chicken welfare. Kleptomaniacs, working security at a department store. Dieters dishing out the irresistible, gourmet, boutique ice cream. In other words, scammers gotta scam, cheaters gotta cheat, and they all get the absolute most profit out of each and every " decision". The Art of the STEAL: the Donald, his family, his minions get huuuuge piles of cash. Everyone else: so sad.
19
Just once would it be possible to find some experienced person who is “not” in some way tied to or beholding to the “industry”. In this case Dr. Gottlieb and “Big Pharma”. And we have Pruitt (oil and gas) over at the EPA. Tillerson (Big Oil) heading up the State Dept. A bunch of military men running the Defense Dept. Sessions a former AG from AL with a penchant for violating civil rights heading up the “Justice” Dept. Oh, and DeVos over at the Education Dept. with zilch experience, but she does have loads of cash. And the list goes on.
Once please, someone who is qualified without having them shackled to lobbyists and industry. That's not asking for too much, is it?
Once please, someone who is qualified without having them shackled to lobbyists and industry. That's not asking for too much, is it?
30
"Just once would it be possible to find some experienced person who is “not” in some way tied to or beholding to the “industry”."....On the other hand would you want someone running the FDA who did not have any knowledge of the drug industry?
Swamp drained, that was easy.
6
It's strange that Mr. Gottlieb is expected to be a new FDA commissioner. Martin Shkreli would be a much better candidate for this role in Trump's America.
17
No need to bother readindg.
Another rich white male fox guarding the hen house.
Another rich white male fox guarding the hen house.
22
Is there a single official who is not ethically compromised in this Sellout Administration? Make that the Sellout Government as the Republican Congress is fully sold (in more ways than one) on the program. Worst government money can buy.
62
I’ll happily take this guy over the other (O’Neill) who was being considered. Being tied to industry doesn’t automatically make him a “shill”.
1