FDAnews
www.fdanews.com/articles/181586-gottlieb-avoids-written-commitments-to-recusal-for-22-companies

Gottlieb Avoids Written Commitments to Recusal for 22 Companies

May 2, 2017

Scott Gottlieb avoided explicit written commitments to recusing himself from decisions involving nearly two dozen companies named in a senator’s questions.

He was pressed on whether or not he would recuse himself from 22 additional companies that were not listed in his March ethics agreement. The companies included the drugmakers Celgene, Cerecor and TRACON — some of the listed companies have products currently in clinical trials, ahead of FDA approval.

Instead, he said he would abide by an ethics agreement he submitted in March, in which he promised to divest his holdings from certain companies if appointed FDA commissioner. He also said he would comply with a Trump executive order, calling for recusals for two years instead of one, and any other applicable laws.

Elsewhere in his 36-page response to questions from Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), Gottlieb said that the opioid abuse epidemic is the biggest public health crisis facing the FDA, and would be his highest priority as commissioner, echoing statements made in his Senate hearing.

View today's stories