The nomination of Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, to serve as commissioner of the FDA drew a solid thumbs-up from generic drug industry leaders, who are hopeful that permanent leadership at the agency will result in more focus on cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals.

"As an agency whose mission it is to protect the public health, [the FDA] needs a leader at the helm," Generic Pharmaceutical Association President Kathleen Jaeger said. "The FDA has many critical issues on its plate that impact consumers' ability to obtain safe, effective, and affordable generic medicines, such as establishing an abbreviated approval pathway for generic biopharmaceuticals and ensuring increased funding for the Office of Generic Drugs."