New FDA commissioner faces major challenges

With Jane Henney at the helm, FDA must implement the FDA Modernization Act and accomplish its many assignments with very tight resources

At literally the last moment, the Senate confirmed Jane Henney on 21 October as the new commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration, providing the agency with a permanent leader after almost two years. Henney faces the daunting task of implementing the FDA Modernization Act (FDAMA) and fulfilling all related requests and requirements set by the legislators. She will have to walk a fine line between reducing bureaucratic hurdles and ensuring that safe and effective products come to market quickly. And she has to do that with dwindling …