November 5, 2004
Via Telecopy
Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Acting Commissioner
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 1471- Parklawn Bldg.
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Dear Dr. Crawford:
The undersigned organizations have been engaged in discussions with officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the course of the past several years in support of a reorganization of the agency to provide better review and regulation of products to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. We were pleased when FDA announced in July 2004 that a new Office of Oncology Drug Products would be established within the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), and we are now writing about the appointment of the Director of the new Office.
The success of the new Office
and enhancement of cancer product review will depend significantly on the qualifications
and qualities of the new Director. We realize that FDA has the ability to tailor
its search and appointment process to ensure that the new Director has the skills
that are necessary for this important position. We are pleased that FDA has
made commitments to include outside experts as part of the selection panel for
this position and to recruit a seasoned cancer clinical researcher. As the process
for recruiting and evaluating candidates moves forward, we urge FDA to retain
as a basic qualification that the Director be a board certified medical oncologist
or hematologist with substantial experience in designing and conducting cancer
clinical trials. Beyond these fundamental qualifications, the new Director should
have the administrative and leadership skills necessary to ensure the smooth
functioning of the Office and to attract a critical mass of oncologists to complete
the important work of the Office.
Because we have been engaged in discussions about the Office for a number of
years and can see the potential for positive results from it, we have a great
sense of urgency about the appointment of the new Director. We urge FDA to move
with all deliberate speed to evaluate candidates from inside and outside the
agency who possess the necessary qualifications to make the Office a success.
Thank you for your consideration of our views on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Cancer Leadership Council
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology & Oncology, Inc.
Cancer Care, Inc.
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups
International Myeloma Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Sarcoma Foundation of America
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Us Too International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network
The Wellness Community
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
cc: Janet Woodcock, M.D.
Acting Deputy Commissioner for Operations