By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: An Insider’s Look at the FDA
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > An Insider’s Look at the FDA
Business

An Insider’s Look at the FDA

Andrew Schorr
Andrew Schorr
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

If you’ve read my blogs for a while, or look up some past blogs, you’ll see I have been frustrated at times with the FDA. Yes, they have a tough job protecting us from medical products that are unsafe and/or ineffective. But when it comes to cancer, where we have few “homerun” therapies, I wish they were a bit more liberal. A “bunt single” might be good enough. You may have read how I have been critical of Dr.

If you’ve read my blogs for a while, or look up some past blogs, you’ll see I have been frustrated at times with the FDA. Yes, they have a tough job protecting us from medical products that are unsafe and/or ineffective. But when it comes to cancer, where we have few “homerun” therapies, I wish they were a bit more liberal. A “bunt single” might be good enough. You may have read how I have been critical of Dr. Rick Pazdur, the FDA leader for oncology drug approval. Some desperate patients and family members have referred to him as “Dr. No.”

Just the other day I interviewed a respected breast cancer survivor and patient advocate who has high respect for Dr. Pazdur. Musa Mayer of New York City is a 22-year breast cancer survivor and author of three books about breast cancer. She’s devoted her life to educating other patents about cancer and also playing a role in public policy. She has become a favorite patient representative on FDA cancer advisory boards and regularly weighs in when breast cancer drugs are being considered.

In my interview with Musa she explained how difficult it is for the FDA, how they must set the bar very high to maintain public trust and public safety. She says it costs drug companies hundreds of millions of dollars to get a drug through development, clinical trials and FDA review. The process does not move fast. Musa explains why. And she also explains why patients should not have false hope about clinical trials. She maintains their usefulness is to answer specific scientific questions but that seeing it as for sure that you will get “tomorrow’s medicine today” only creates false hope.

More Read

Big Defense Contractors Take Aim at Healthcare
Should Government Control Big Pharma Marketing?
The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Medical Billing
Economists on the Left Discover … Well … Economics
Hepatitis C Drug Battle: What’s Going On?

I asked Musa if she was optimistic that drugs could be approved faster, and therefore save and prolong more lives. She said yes. Her reason is that more drug companies are making sure there’s a diagnostic test to go along with their proposed new drug. That way the drug is used on the subset of patients who have the specific cancer variation where the drug works best. That kind of targeted therapy is what the FDA is looking for now and the right test, on the right patient, who is then treated with the right drug could present very positive results the FDA cannot ignore.

Maybe I am wrong about Dr. Pazdur, and maybe I’ve been unfair to the FDA. I’ll have to re-listen to the interview with Musa. She presents a convincing case. See what you think and let me know!

Wishing you and your family the best of health!

Andrew

TAGGED:cancerFDApharmaceuticals
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Remote Monitoring touchpoints
Remote Monitoring Touchpoints Patients Will Actually Follow
Technology
October 9, 2025
dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025

You Might also Like

What Do Patients Really Want? Part I

January 18, 2012

A New Way to Allocate Donor Kidneys?

March 31, 2011
medical innovation and tech helping people to get healthy
BusinessHospital AdministrationTechnology

Dr. Ryan Shelton Reveals 9 Data-Driven Tips for Optimal Health

February 25, 2021
Image
Hospital AdministrationMedical EducationSpecialties

How Do You Talk About Cancer?

June 9, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?