Brown: Gottlieb Not Fit to Head FDA

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is highlighting Dr. Scott Gottlieb's troubling record on opioids ahead of a markup tomorrow in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to vote on Gottlieb's nomination to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The hearing follows a report from the Washington Post this week, which found that while at FDA in 2006, Gottlieb worked on behalf of the pharmaceutical Cephalon to try to secure additional supply of fentanyl when the company was running low. According to the Post, the company was under investigation at that time for illegally pushing fentanyl for off-label uses.

"Anyone who thinks we need more fentanyl on the market should visit an Ohio coroner's office that's had to bring in extra refrigerated trailers to keep up with the rapidly growing number of bodies from the lives being lost to overdoses and explain themselves to the parents, children and friends who've lost loved ones to this deadly drug," said Brown. "Whoever is in charge of the FDA must put the people's safety over drug company profits."

Brown announced his opposition to Gottlieb's nomination earlier this month, citing his cozy relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and troubling record on opioids. The Washington Post story raises additional concerns over whether Gottlieb could act in the best interest of Ohioans and use his authority to rein in prescription painkillers. On average, 91 Americans, including 12 Ohioans, die every day from an opioid overdose.

Brown has introduced bipartisan legislation to help keep illegal fentanyl and other deadly synthetic opioids out of the U.S. The INTERDICT Act has garnered the support of several state and national law enforcement organizations.

Dr. Gottlieb has called into question the FDA's authority to police opioids, despite the fact that these prescription drugs are often sold on the black market. He has supported allowing pharmaceutical companies to rush their drugs -- including potentially addictive opioid painkillers -- onto the market before properly safety protocols are complete. And he's defended industry's efforts to market new drugs and devices with minimal safety oversight, prioritizing industry special interests and profit potential over patient safety.

Brown also expressed concern over Gottlieb's ability to stand up to big tobacco, particularly when it comes to newer products, like e-cigarettes, which are particularly appealing to kids.

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