Dr. Califf was confirmed for the job in a vote of 89 to 4; along with Mr. Manchin, Senators Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts; Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut; and Kelly Ayotte, Republican of New Hampshire, voted in opposition to him. However different Republicans, led by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, then the bulk chief, voted in favor.
That assist could also be one cause Mr. Biden picked Mr. Califf: His choice drew blended response.
“It’s shocking that the White Home has appeared actually tone-deaf on conflicts of curiosity and really shut ties to the business,” stated Diana Zuckerman, the president of the Nationwide Heart for Well being Analysis, a nonprofit advocacy group.
However others stated they believed that Dr. Califf’s business expertise mustn’t bar him from the job, noting that he has disclosed his ties in publishing the outcomes of scientific trials.
“The reality of the matter is business develops medication — you need to work with business. The difficulty is disclosure in publication,” stated Ellen V. Sigal, the founder and chairwoman of the nonprofit Mates of Most cancers Analysis, which accepts business funding. “Rob has executed many, many scientific trials with business, however he has not been a pawn of business. He’s utterly dedicated to transparency, integrity and science.”
Dr. Aaron S. Kesselheim, who served on the F.D.A. advisory panel that thought of the Alzheimer’s drug and resigned from the committee after it was authorized, stated Dr. Califf’s background operating scientific trials could be precious for main the company.
“I don’t suppose it’s essentially disqualifying,” stated Dr. Kesselheim, a professor of medication at Harvard Medical Faculty and Brigham and Girls’s Hospital. “I believe the truth that he labored for such a very long time in scientific trials demonstrates that he has experience in understanding what goes into scientific trial. Hopefully, he can convey that into his function as an F.D.A. commissioner.”
However Dr. Kesselheim objected to Dr. Califf’s efforts, when he was the commissioner, to permit drug firms to promote off-label makes use of for his or her merchandise, noting that sufferers might be endangered by medication which are prescribed for makes use of that the F.D.A. has not authorized. “That to me is a crimson flag,” Dr. Kesselheim stated. “Hopefully, he’s moved previous that as an thought, as a result of it might be a horrible thought.”
