Proposed US government funding may increase FDA oversight in China

The continuing resolution (CR) bill provides the FDA with an increase of $24 million is the 2013 fiscal year, according to a recent article on outsourcing-pharma.com. The proposed $2.5 billion FDA budget includes $10 million that would allow FDA to add 16 inspectors in China with three US analysts.  Increased oversight in China would help FDA confirm safe clinical investigations and manufacturing processes.  The budget also includes a $3.5 million supplement for advancing medical countermeasures. The Alliance for a Stronger FDA supports the Senate bill and believes it is “highly favorable to the FDA.” However, it should be noted that the proposed budget does not account for sequester, so FDA will still be working with less money. Congress is expected to make a decision by March 27^th to prevent governmental shutdown. To read the full article on outsourcing-pharma.com, click here.