#61 FDA Petition

Published: Feb. 17, 2009, 1:39 p.m.

b"On this week's show, we welcome Kelly Close and Amy Tenderich. Kelly and Amy, along with Manny Hernandez, founder of TuDiabetes.com and with the support of many other leaders in the Diabetes community, are conducting a petition drive to the FDA.We fear that innovation is slowing in Diabetes, despite the urgent need for new treatments. Today, close to half of the 24 million Americans with Diabetes do not meet recommended blood sugar goals.\\xa0The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's job is to protect the safety of patients and approve innovative medicines.\\xa0We are asking the new FDA leadership for two things:1. To create a council of Diabetes patients and health care professionals who can help the FDA assess new information and assimilate diverse opinions, including those of patients.2. To make the rules reasonable for the sake of the patients, which can be done without sacrificing safety. http://www.helpthefda.org/Please note: This petition is sponsored by a group of concerned patients, doctors and Diabetes educators, not the drug industry."