D.C. Week: HHS Eases Buprenorphine Prescribing

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Washington-Watch/Washington-Watch/58977

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration raised the cap on the number of individuals for whom prescribers can prescribe buprenorphine and the FDA approves the first bioresorbable stent for coronary artery disease.

HHS Eases Buprenorphine Prescribing

The Obama administration announced a new rule that could lower the death toll from opioid overdoses, but the changes will be mostly meaningless without additional funding, officials said.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially raised the limit on the number of individuals for whom prescribers can order medication assisted treatment, specifically buprenorphine, from 100 to 275.

“In the absence of congressional action, we’re taking every step forward that we can,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, referring to the stalemate in Congress over appropriating adequate funding for opioids.

 

FDA Chief Criticizes Industry for Inaction on Opioids

The new head of the FDA accepted some blame for the agency’s role in the growing opioid epidemic, while also chiding drug manufacturers for failing to take action.

“[W]e are all sinners,” said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, recalling the words of his Baptist grandfather.

“I think in this case, there’s a lot of sin to go around.”

Califf spoke to provisional members of a newly formed committee charged with advising his agency on how best to balance the needs of legitimate pain patients with the societal issue of opioid addiction. At the meeting, held at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on Wednesday, Califf said he’s spoken with R&D directors at most of the big drug companies and none have shown interest in investing in research on new non-addictive painkillers.

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