House Passes Drug Safety Bill

Under a bill passed Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will have greater power to regulate the safety of prescription medications, including more oversight of drugs that are already on the market. The Washington Post reports that "in the wake of the Vioxx withdrawal and subsequent problems with other drugs, lawmakers seized on the legislation to overhaul how the FDA handles the safety of the drugs it regulates." The bill is expected to pass a Senate vote later this week.

• Washington Post: House Passes Bill to Improve Drug Safety
• FDA's Drug Safety Initiative
• FDA to Strengthen Drug Safety Review (FindLaw's Common Law Blog)
• Pharmaceutical Drug Liability (FindLaw)