On November 12, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Dr. Robert Califf as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Dr. Califf, a cardiologist, previously served as FDA Commissioner in the Obama Administration between February 2016 and January 2017. Califf is currently a professor of medicine at Duke.
The FDA has been without a permanent head since January 2021. For the past 10 months, the agency has been helmed by Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, who joined the FDA in 1986. In announcing Califf’s nomination, President Biden applauded Acting Commissioner Woodcock and her staff’s dedication during a “busy and challenging” time for the agency and noted that the agency would continue “its science and data driven decision-making” during this “critical moment” under Califf.
If confirmed, Califf would join the FDA as it prepares for further work in the face of the pandemic and supply-chain issues. Califf’s confirmation hearings could provide insights on his views on cannabidiol (“CBD”) and other issues facing the food and beverage industry.