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.

NCHR Testimony to the FDA Joint Advisory Committee of the FDA on Calcitonin

March 5, 2013. Dr. Jennings testifies to the FDA that the risks of using calcitonin to prevent bone fractures in post-menopausal are greater than the potential benefits.

NCHR Testimony on Gabapentin

March 4, 2013. Dr. Jennings testifies to the FDA that there is not sufficient evidence to support gabapentin as a safe and effective treatment for hot flashes.

NCHR Testimony on Paroxetine (Brisdelle)

March 4, 2013. Dr. Mary Carol Jennings testifies to the FDA on the risks of using Paroxetine (Brisdelle) to treat hot flashes.

NCHR Testimony on Creating an Alternative Approval Pathway for Drugs to Address Unmet Medical Need

February 4, 2013. Dr. Yttri testifies at an FDA public hearing that a new, expedited pathway for drug approval is poorly-defined and would promote unproven drugs to high-risk patients.

Statement of Dr. Diana Zuckerman on FDA Approval of New Silicone-Gel Breast Implant Natrelle 410

February 21, 2013. Yesterday the FDA quietly approved yet another questionable style of breast implants, the Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Gel Filled Breast Implant made by Allergan, Inc. Unfortunately, Allergan’s studies did not compare the safety and effectiveness of the Natrelle 410 implant to other previously approved silicone gel-filled breast implants on the market.