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 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.

Letter to NJ officials in Montclair and Essex County Regarding Harms from Artificial Turf

October 30, 2023: NCHR president Dr. Diana Zuckerman wrote a letter to NJ officials in Montclair and Essex County explaining why lead, PFAS, and other chemicals in artificial turf and rubber playground surfaces harm children’s health and safety.

NCHR’s Comments on Proposed Supplemental Guidance for CPSC Chronic Hazard Guidelines

NCHR criticizes CPSC’s revised proposal for chronic hazard guidelines for focusing on linear modeling that is not appropriate for endocrine disrupting chemical and for including a loophole that enables companies to do whatever they think is scientifically appropriate. We urge the CPSC to produce more explicit, rigorous guidelines based on sound science, since that is essential for the safety of consumers.