Today President Trump announced Dr. Scott Gottlieb as his pick to lead the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Gottlieb has an impressive and extensive resume, with a wide-ranging background in both the private and public sectors and a M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. IPCPR welcomes the pick of Dr. Gottlieb and, If confirmed, they look forward to working with him as they continue to advocate for common-sense reforms to the recent FDA regulation needlessly harming the family owned small businesses retailers that make up IPCPR.
Dr. Gottlieb has vast public policy experience, having served in the George W. Bush Administration as the FDA Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs. Prior to that, he was the FDA‘s Director of Medical Policy Development. Throughout his career, Dr. Gottlieb has demonstrated his commitment to a responsible and effective role for the FDA, but one that does not distract from its core mission or needlessly put American jobs at risk.
Of note, Dr. Gottlieb’s extensive body of published works and public commentary also includes his thoughts on the FDA and premium cigars. Specifically, in a New York Post op-ed article published on August 16, 2012, Dr. Gottlieb outlines his concerns with the then pending regulatory regime under consideration at the FDA. Relying on his extensive public policy experience in the fields of health and life sciences, Dr. Gottlieb refers to the proposed regulations as an example of “a broader trend of expanding the scope of regulation to cover areas never envisioned by Congress.” Moreover, in that same article he explicitly identifies one of the underlining concerns with what eventually became the FDA deeming rule. “The rising use of machine-made cigars by underage smokers has long troubled the FDA,” he continues, “but the new regulation apparently wouldn’t clearly distinguish these cheap, small cigars from larger, premium brands smoked by adults.”
According to IPCPR CEO Mark Pursell, “our association remains committed to working with new leadership at the FDA, and is excited by Dr. Gottlieb’s impressive background, past statements and proven record as a thoughtful and reform-minded public servant.”
Dr. Gottlieb’s full New York Post opinion piece can be found here.