FORMER FDA DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JOHN NORRIS TO TESTIFY BEFORE REP. DINGELL

Executive Summary

FORMER FDA DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JOHN NORRIS TO TESTIFY BEFORE REP. DINGELL at a House Energy and Commerce/Oversight hearing scheduled for Oct. 15. Norris is scheduled to be the sole hearing witness as the subcommittee continues its probe into the generic drug approval process. Reportedly, Norris is being called before the subcommittee because of his reluctance to cooperate with the investigation. The subcommittee feels that Norris has delayed opportunities to be interviewed privately by the subcommittee staff. A subpoena has been issued to Norris to force him to testify publicly. Reportedly, the subcommittee is interested in questioning Norris about possible contacts he has had with companies having difficulties with FDA in his position as exec VP with the public relations firm Hill & Knowlton. The subcommittee has had to postpone additional hearings on the generic drug approval process and related compliance issues that were tentatively scheduled for November and December. Those hearings are expected to be rescheduled for sometime in the first quarter of 1990.