Health Committee to vote on von Eschenbach

Executive Summary

Senate Health Committee is scheduled to vote Sept. 20 on the nomination of Andrew von Eschenbach to be permanent commissioner of FDA, despite the prospect of future holds. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) has threatened a hold to push for a drug importation program, while Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) may use a hold to protest the continued marketing of Danco Laboratories' abortifacient Mifeprex. Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) and Patty Murray (Wash.) recently released a hold on von Eschenbach following FDA's approval of the morning-after pill Plan B for OTC use (1"The Pink Sheet" Aug. 28, 2006, p. 9)...