We’re Speaking Out on Health Issues

NCHR scientists and health policy experts provide written and oral statements on a wide range of topics.

Here are many of the ways we have been Speaking Out on Health Policy Issues for the last few years. Whether the topic is legislation intended to cure diseases, proposed bans on BPA or other chemicals that disrupt your hormones, the importance of including women, people of color, and patients over 65 in clinical trials, or many other topics, you’ll gain a better understanding of our evidence-based analyses by reading these letters, statements, and testimony.

Here are the ways we have been Speaking out on Medical Treatments and Products, such as prescription drugs and medical devices that the FDA is considering approving, or is considering taking off the market because of serious risks. Whether the topic is Chantix, Addyi, Yaz, Essure, or medical products you’ve never heard of, you can find out more about what is known and not known about the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of products by looking through this section of our website.

Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition Letter to FDA Regarding Consumer Representatives in Advisory Committees

November 20, 2023: The Coalition expressed concerns that patients, health professionals, and industry-affiliated individuals are erroneously categorized as Consumer Representatives on FDA Advisory Committees.

NCHR Comments on Health and Human Services’ Proposed Healthy People 2030 Objectives

November, 2023, NCHR supports HHS’ proposed healthy people 2030 objectives and the inclusion of social determinants of health as key measurable objectives. To strengthen HHS’ goal of improving community health and achieving health equity, we recommended including individual and organizational health literacy objectives and forming inclusive, diverse stakeholder committees.

NCHR Provides Oral Testimony at the FDA Pulmonary Allergy Advisory Committee Meeting on Gefapixant

November 17, 2023: NCHR provided testimony at the FDA Pulmonary Allergy Advisory Committee Meeting on a new treatment for refractory or unexplained cough, Gefapixant. We reviewed the research which showed Gefapixant had a modest difference in cough frequency (<1%) and improved quality of life (1 point reduction) when compared to placebo, a small reduction that is of little value to patients. One third of patients also reported an adverse taste-related event with Gefapixant. We concluded that Gefapixant does not adequately address the unmet need for treating patients with refractory or unexplained cough in terms of effectiveness or tolerability.

NCHR testimony at the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting regarding the dangling accelerated approvals of pralatrexate and belinostat for peripheral T-cell lymphoma

November 16, 2023: We believe it necessary for FDA to rescind approval until a trial is completed that confirms meaningful clinical benefits

Testimony of Diana Zuckerman at FDA Advisory Panel on Blood Irradiators

November 7, 2023: Blood irradiator devices have been used for decades on cancer patients to try to prevent metastasis. NCHR agrees with FDA there is no evidence that they benefit patients and it is clear the radiation can be harmful. At an FDA Advisory Committee meeting in November 2023, we urged FDA to finally require scientific studies if companies want to continue to sell these devices.