Bernie Sanders, a Democratic presidential candidate and senator from Vermont, is now the third senator to block President Barack Obama’s nominee, Dr. Robert Califf, to head the FDA.

President Obama nominated Califf in November, upon which time he was met with skepticism from members of a Senate committee about his ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Having been a consultant to drug companies and run a research institute that received a majority of its funding from the industry, many people believe Califf is too close to the industry that President Obama wants him to regulate. 

On Monday, Democratic Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts placed a hold on President Obama’s nomination until the FDA “agrees to reform its process for approving opioid painkillers.”

According to an article published in Reuters:

“Markey wants opioid-approval matters to be reviewed by an FDA advisory committee and believes the committee should consider the risk of addiction and abuse during the approval process. He also wants the agency to rescind approval of OxyContin for children and convene an advisory panel to guide that process.”

Earlier this month, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also placed a hold on the nomination due to concerns about the FDA’s approval of genetically engineered (GMO) salmon.

One release reports:

“In November, the FDA approved the first genetically engineered food animal. AquaBounty’s GMO salmon—dubbed ‘Frankenfish’ by opponents—is genetically altered to grow to market size in half the time of conventional salmon. The FDA did not require the product to carry a label, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between non-GMO and GMO salmon.”

Despite this opposition, many sources expect Califf’s nomination to be approved when the Senate votes later this year.

Lead image photo credit: Gage Skidmore.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates on the latest pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing news!