SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the leading voice to drive innovation for California's life sciences sector, today applauded the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Robert Califf, M.D., as the new commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CLSA is the nation's largest statewide life sciences public policy, advocacy and business solutions organization serving more than 750 life sciences organizations across California.
Today's confirmation underscores the overall importance and impact of California's life sciences ecosystem. The FDA plays a vital role in the medical technology and biopharmaceutical innovation ecosystem that helps drive California's economy, and delivers life-changing medicines and technologies that benefit health and well-being far beyond the state of California.
"California Life Sciences Association applauds the confirmation of Robert Califf, M.D., as FDA Commissioner. We believe Dr. Califf will be an exemplary steward of the FDA's public health and safety mission, and will continue to improve the agency's drug and device approval processes to ensure that patients receive the safest and most effective treatments as quickly as possible," said Sara Radcliffe, President and CEO, California Life Sciences Association (CLSA). "Dr. Califf has also committed to better incorporating patient and consumer feedback into the regulatory process, and expanding technological capabilities to engage more patients and caregivers to better inform product safety and technology development."
"On behalf of the more than 750 life sciences organizations we represent, California Life Sciences Association strongly supports this confirmation, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the FDA and Dr. Califf to meet our shared goals," added Radcliffe.
Dr. Califf previously served as the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco, a position he held since March. Prior to joining FDA, Dr. Califf had been with his alma mater, Duke University, since 1982, serving as a professor and vice chancellor at the Duke University School of Medicine, and as director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute. Dr. Califf also has served as an advisor on the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM), and as a member of several FDA advisory committees.
About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)
California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the leading voice for California's life sciences sector. We work closely with industry, government, academia and other stakeholders to shape public policy, drive business solutions and grow California's life sciences innovation ecosystem. CLSA serves over 750 biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged to create the state's most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.