Biotech Values

[stuck_holder]

Any sign of a "turf war" within the FDA, especially regarding oncology, would be a bad signal to send to Congress at this point.

i think you are overestimating ODAC & Pazdur's hand when it comes to their apparent internal battle with CBER & Provenge, & how that might look to Congress.

Last time i checked, the Democrat's black caucus is pretty influential when it comes to matters that directly & disproportionately affect their constituents, and the greater incidence of prostate cancer among black men is (or should be) well known to this group.

frankly, i would welcome ODAC & Pazdur creating a turf war based on whether the FDA's decision to approve Provenge is justified, since it would draw deserved attention to ODAC's, and in particular, Scher's conflicted position and Pazdur's apparent not-so-hidden agenda.

While i suppose some in the black caucus could be bought off (as with any politician), i think Pazdur would meet his comeuppance if he really wants to push the issue of Provenge approval into a public & political debate...

in fact, close public scrutiny of this issue, imo, would help serve to clean up the FDA & ODAC in particular, something that appears to be desperately needed based on my layman's read of this situation.