“Safe Use” to launch in January

Executive Summary

FDA's initiative to influence the safe use of drugs will kick off in the new year, Woodcock said at the DIA/FDA/PhRMA conference. "FDA does not control the health care system, so our improving the use of marketed drugs, to a great extent, is going to involve influence rather than control," by partnering with the growing patient safety movement, she said. "The vast majority of harm from approved drugs comes from misuse, inappropriate use ... failure to use, abuse, [and] medical mix-ups. There is just carnage out there, and we know that." The program was announced in conjunction with the "Safety First" pharmacovigilance initiative (1"The Pink Sheet," March 3, 2008, p. 6)