January 21, 2026 NCHR Written Comment to FDA: ZYN says it is good for public health because it is less harmful than smoking. We disagree. It has never been tested in long-term studies to determine its impact on cancer, heart disease, and other serious diseases. It is very harmful because it is marketed to children and teen non-smokers, creating an epidemic of nicotine addiction similar to the vaping epidemic among children a few years ago.
Read More »On Medical Treatments & Products
NCHR Comments on The National Coverage Analysis for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
January 14, 2026: NCHR comment to CMS explains TAVR doesn’t provide meaningful benefits to asymptomatic patients because patients in the EARLY TAVR study did not live longer or avoid disabling strokes and it did not evaluate typical Medicare patients or typical treatment or safeguards available to TAVR patients.
Read More »Testimony of Dr. Diana Zuckerman at the FDA Circulatory System Devices Advisory Panel Meeting on V-Wave Ventura Shunt
December 3, 2025: Diana Zuckerman urges FDA Advisory Devices Panel to require more research on Ventura shunt to make sure it is more effective than sham control placebo group. She points out the well-designed study did not meet primary endpoint to improve cardiac results for patients.
Read More »Testimony of Dr. Diana Zuckerman at the FDA Advisory Committee On Digital Health
NCHR’s Dr. Diana Zuckerman testified at the FDA Advisory Committee meeting on Digital mental health products, expressing concerns about FDA’s failure to regulate the Chatbots and other digital products being marketed as “licensed therapists” and used as psychotherapists in ways that can be extremely harmful. She urged better research but acknowledged difficulty of studying devices that are updated frequently
Read More »NCHR Comments on Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain
National Center for Health Research submitted a written public comment to the FDA docket that advised the agency on the kinds of research needed to ensure that non-opioid pain medications are safe and effective for chronic pain and patients can make informed choices. We point out that it would be unethical to conduct studies that compare these products to opioids in clinical trials.
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