Crawford lands on his feet

Executive Summary

Former FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford joins the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm Policy Directions as senior counsel. The firm has served the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, the Biotechnology Industry Organization and several major pharmaceutical companies. According to public disclosures, PhRMA paid Policy Directions $120,000 in 2005 to lobby Congress, HHS and FDA on pharmaceutical importation, FDA regulation and user fees. Additionally, Merck and Genzyme each paid the firm $80,000 in 2005. According to Policy Direction's website, the firm was involved in modifying the Controlled Substances Act, helped garner support for the "Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act" and "successfully achieved FDA advisory committee support for a product that had originally been voted down." Crawford's abrupt departure from FDA in September is currently under review by the HHS Inspector General (1"The Pink Sheet" Sept. 26, 2005, p. 3)...