Lester Crawford’s nomination to head the FDA won committee approval on Wednesday but is still facing some major hurdles before reaching a full Senate vote.
Although the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved the nomination, Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., have placed a hold on Crawford’s nomination, blocking immediate consideration of it.
The hold will remain in place until the FDA issues a yes or no decision on allowing OTC sales of Barr Pharmaceuticals’ emergency contraceptive Plan B. In January, an FDA advisory panel recommended 24-3 in favor of OTC status for the drug but at press time the agency had yet to make a final determination on the matter.
Crawford faces obstacles in nomination process
Lester Crawford’s nomination to head the FDA won committee approval on Wednesday but is still facing some major hurdles before reaching a full Senate vote.
