FDA ‘Expert Panels’ Raise Concerns of Evading Regulations, Ethics: Do panels cherry pick experts and evidence that align with FDA leadership’s views?

July 24, 2024 MedPage explains how FDA’s new meetings are called expert panels but their “experts” seem to have one thing in common: they agree on one side of controversial issues, such as the safety of hormone therapy despite reported cancer risks, the risks of talc for cancer, and the risks of SSRIs (depression drugs). We tell MedPage that the meeting rooms are small and filled primarily with supporters and no public questions or comments are allowed. The meetings are not announced to the general public and usually only a few days in advance. We explain all the reasons why this is the opposite of the transparency we were promised by HHS.

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NCHR Testimony regarding Front-of-Package Nutrition Information Labeling

July 15, 2025: NCHR submitted written comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in support of the proposed rule on front-of-package nutrition labeling, recommending stronger, clearer labeling requirements, especially for young children. They suggested additional testing to ensure consumers understand and benefit from the labels, including those with limited literacy or English proficiency.

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FDA Panel to Revisit Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Politico; July 15, 2025: This article describes the FDA panel on the risks and benefits of hormone therapy for menopause: breast cancer, heart disease,stroke, dementia. Zuckerman points out that the panel is one-sided, ignoring data on risks and not allowing public comments from patients or experts to ask questions or describe studies indicating cancer and other serious risks.

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MIT Technology Review: Meet Jim O’Neill, the longevity enthusiast who is now RFK Jr.’s right-hand man

MIT Technology Review July 1, 2025: HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill wants unproven medical treatments to be very widely available and HHS to focus funding on longevity research so that those who can afford them can live much longer. This could include areas at sea or in states that are not subject to FDA safeguards. What will happen to the millions of Americans who need healthcare for diseases they already have?

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