Nov. 22, 2011 – The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (CMPI) believes that if politics takes priority over the public health during negotiations for the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act V (PDUFA V), “bad things” will happen. To prevent that outcome, CMPI is leading a panel discussion, entitled “Defining the Future of the FDA: PDUFA V and Beyond,” on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

“When politics trumps public health, patients suffer,” said CMPI President Peter Pitts. “Properly constructed, PDUFA V can help the FDA to aggressively pursue its mission of protecting and advancing healthcare in the United States. Politics has no place. It’s time for all parties concerned to act as colleagues and do the right thing,” according to Pitts.

CMPI’s panel discussion will be held from 12 PM-1:30 PM in Rm. 2168 (Gold Room) of the Rayburn House Office Building on Nov. 29. The panel includes some of the nation’s top experts in PDUFA and FDA reform, as follows:

• Peter Pitts (moderator), Former FDA Associate Commissioner
• Hon. Michael C. Burgess, M.D., Vice Chairman, Subcommittee on Health, U.S. House of Representatives
• Vincent Ventimiglia, Jr., Former Assistant Secretary for Legislation at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Senior Vice President in the Health and Life Sciences Practice at B&D Consulting, a division of Baker & Daniels
• Paul T. Kim, Former Deputy Staff Director for health policy for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy; Partner at Foley Hoag LLP in the Government Strategies Practice
• Michele J. Orza, Former Assistant Director of the Health Care Team at the Government Accountability Office; Principal Policy Analyst at the National Health Policy Forum
• Tim Franson, Former Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Eli Lilly & Co.; President USP Convention; Senior Vice President, Health and Life Sciences Sector, B&D Consulting.

For more information and instructions regarding how to RSVP, please reference the PDUFA Event Invite.