The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved President Obama's nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration Wednesday, despite an effort by a small group of senators to block the confirmation as a way to demonstrate their objection to the agency's record on prescription painkillers.
The Senate voted 89-4 to confirm Dr. Robert Califf to head the agency for the remainder of Obama's term. The four no votes came from three Democrats — Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut — along with New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte.
"FDA stands for Food and Drug Administration, but over the last 20 years it really stands for 'fostering drug addiction,' " Markey said on the Senate floor, according to the New York Times. "We have to have an honest discussion about the role that agency is playing."
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The FDA has been under fire for approving the use of powerful painkillers in recent years. In 2013, for instance, it approved the use of Zohydro, a drug that contains five to 10 times as much hydrocodone as vicodin. It also OKed oxycontin prescriptions for children last year.
Addiction to prescription meds has also fueled a major increase in the use of heroin in recent years, as those who get hooked on painkillers often turn to heroin — which is cheaper and often easier to obtain — Those who opposed Califf's candidacy did not describe him as playing a particularly important role in the FDA's alleged abdication of duty, but as the deputy commissioner since early last year, he represents the establishment that they say has failed the public. A former medical researcher at Duke University, Califf has also worked closely with pharmaceutical companies as a consultant.
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