FDA assumes role of public health agency

Speaking to the audience of the 2009 PDA–FDA Joint Regulatory Conference in Washington (USA), this week, the FDA's Principal Deputy Commissioner, Joshua M. Sharfstein, outlined four principles that define the FDA's role as a public health agency. He and FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg introduced their concept of FDA as a public health agency in a May 2009 New England Journal of Medicine article.

The first principle of public health is prevention, Sharfstein told the conference audience. Referring to an earlier talk by Rick Friedman, Director of the FDA Division of Manufacturing & Product Quality, he noted recent challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, including supply-chain management and the adulteration of drug products with contaminants such as diethylene glycol. "I think all of these things are amenable to a preventive approach," he said. "When one company falters because of a quality problem, it’s their problem to fix and prevent. But when a problem occurs across the industry, when it causes the kind of quality-system problems…it’s everyone’s problem and it’s FDA’s problem to help think about solutions."

Sharfstein also brought up the quality trio guidelines finalized by the International Conference on Harmonization, ICH Q8, Q9, and Q10, as an example of how industry can prevent problems. "The goal of these efforts is to understand from the start what makes a product of high quality rather than waiting to discover a problem after the fact," he said. "[FDA] would like to foster more such productive collaboration that leads to concrete results in preventing problems."

The second principle of a public health approach identified by Sharftstein during his talk is the "best available science". He noted that FDA is working to identify key projects that can help product quality, streamline approval pathways and improve scientific training. "We’d like to see more guidance documents emerge out of these scientific efforts to provide a clear and transparent process to address long-standing quality issues and to help bring important products to the market."

Third, a public agency by definition involves the public, he said, pointing to the new transparency initiatives at FDA such as its website, public meetings and blog. He encouraged industry to improve its transparency as well, noting that sometimes, companies are reluctant to issue a press release or conduct a recall when things go wrong.

"In the next decade, with speed of information only accelerating, it's a good assumption that product quality problems will eventually come to light. It's better for companies to develop effective and transparent communication systems now rather than stumble when others are providing key messages about your products for you," he said.

Sharfstein emphasized his point by stating, "When public health is at stake, FDA is going to take this basic position: You can explain this problem to the public or we will." This statement likely refers to the agency's new enforcement plan, which went into effect on 15 September (see a related blog).

Fourth and finally, Sharfstein discussed the premise of public health as one in which the health of the public matters. "In evaluating product quality issues for 2020, I would imagine there are many ways to resolve key challenges as you face them, however, I urge you to consider the health of the public as the North Pole for your compass."

In some concluding remarks during a question-and-answer session, he added: "Let’s not be so risk-averse that we lose opportunities for really important innovation and progress."