WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) issued the following statement from Scott Melville, president and CEO, in response to the announcement that Patrizia Cavazzoni will succeed Janet Woodcock as the permanent director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research:

Scott Melville

“CHPA congratulates Patrizia Cavazzoni on her recent appointment as director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Dr. Cavazzoni’s recent role as acting director, together with her previous industry experience, make her uniquely qualified to take on this important public health role, especially at this very challenging time.  CHPA and its member companies look forward to collaborating with Dr. Cavazzoni to enhance safe and effective nonprescription drug options for consumers in the United States.  

“This is a particularly important time for OTC medicines at the FDA, as the Agency works to implement the landmark Over-The-Counter Modernization and User Fee Act (OMUFA) passed by Congress and signed into law last March. We are confident that Dr. Cavazzoni will prioritize implementation of the new law, and we are hopeful she will move forward to issue a proposed rule to help companies develop meaningful and responsive Rx-OTC switch programs.

“CHPA would also like to recognize and thank Dr. Janet Woodcock for her years of service as previous CDER Director.  Under Dr. Woodcock’s steady and forward-looking leadership, significant enhancements have been made to the regulation of OTC medicines, culminating in the historic enactment of OMUFA legislation last year.  Such progress would not have been made without her personal involvement and commitment to modernizing OTC regulation for the benefit of the public health.”