Featured Issue Briefs
The Battle on the Home Front: Jonathan Gadsden's Story
Marine Lance Corporal's story reflects the growing need for new antibiotics that can treat dangerous diseases, against which most drugs are useless. Read More
Facilitating Medical Device Innovation: De Novo Reform
The de novo process -- which requests lower-risk reclassification of medical devices and entry into the marketplace -- as it exists now is not achieving its purpose and has instead added unnecessary and time-consuming requirements. Read More
Food Products Recalled by FDA
Since President Obama signed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act into law, at least 149 FDA-regulated food products have been recalled due to potential pathogenic contamination. Read More
More Issue Briefs
| Date | Issue Briefs | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 2010 |
Testimony: House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related AgenciesAntibiotic-resistant infections have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the top public health challenges in the United States. Massive use of medically important antibiotics like penicillin and tetracycline in food animal production is a significant contributor to this problem. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Jul 15, 2009 |
Testimony: Robert P. Martin Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on RulesTestimony from Robert P. Martin, Senior Officer, Pew Environment Group, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules regarding the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA). More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Aug 16, 2012 |
The Battle on the Home Front: The Jonathan Gadsden StorySince Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom began, many American servicemen and women have been infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While our men and women in uniform increasingly survive severe wounds sustained in combat, their injuries leave them susceptible to life-threatening, hard-to-treat infections. Marine Lance Corporal Jonathan Gadsden’s story reflects the growing need for new antibiotics that can treat these dangerous diseases, against which most drugs are useless. More info |
Antibiotic Innovation |
| Mar 1, 2012 |
The Superbug ThreatAs Drug-resistant bacteria spread, the pipeline for antibiotics is drying up More info |
Antibiotic Innovation |
| Mar 1, 2012 |
The Threat of Multidrug-Resistant Infections to ChildrenExpert testimony, research, and commentary More info |
Antibiotic Innovation |
| Mar 1, 2012 |
The Threat of Multidrug-Resistant Infections to the U.S. MilitaryExpert Testimony, Research, and Commentary Learn More “MDRO multidrug resistant organism infections have become an international health problem during the past several decades and now pose a challenge to the care of our wounded military personnel.” — D. Hospenthal More info |
Antibiotic Innovation |
| Apr 18, 2011 |
Tips for Writing a Letter to the EditorSend a letter to your local newspaper to stress why antibiotics are important to you and your family. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Apr 4, 2011 |
Tools to Improve School MealsThe meals schools serve to students are an important source of nutrients kids need to grow, learn and succeed. Yet many schools don’t have the necessary tools to prepare safe and healthy meals. More info |
School Food |
| Sep 17, 2008 |
Top Line Poll ResultsResults from Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies survey of 1002 likely voters, conducted from July 21-August 3, 2008. More info |
Food Safety |
| Apr 1, 2010 |
Toxic Chemicals and a Child's Brain DevelopmentToday, one in six children in the United States has a developmental or learning disability. Some experts say many of these may be due in part to early exposures to toxic chemicals. The number of children diagnosed with these disabilities has increased dramatically over the past four decades. More info |
Environmental Risk |
| Jun 1, 2010 |
Toxic Chemicals and Reproductive HealthOver the past few decades, the reproductive health of Americans appears to have declined. Diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the development and functioning of the male and female reproductive systems—including fertility problems, miscarriages, pre-term births, low birthweights and certain birth defects—have risen. In addition, incidence rates of testicular cancer have increased, and breast and prostate cancers remain among the most common forms of cancer in the U.S. More info |
Environmental Risk |
| Aug 13, 2012 |
U.S. Senators' Letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret HamburgThirteen U.S. Senators, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Susan Collins signed a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg calling for improvements to Guidance for Industry 209 -- which proposes voluntary reductions in the use of antibiotics in food animal production. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| May 31, 2012 |
Unmet Medical Need in Infectious DiseasesIntroduced more than 75 years ago, antibiotics have profoundly transformed health care. Thanks to these drugs and to advances in vaccines and infection control, many formerly devastating bacterial illnesses can be cured or contained. More info |
Antibiotic Innovation |
| Mar 20, 2013 |
Washington Food Leaders Urge Sen. Murray to Shine a Light on Industrial Farms' Antibiotic UseSixteen of Washington state’s most celebrated chefs, farmers, and other food leaders wrote a letter to Senator Patty Murray, member of the Senate HELP Committee, asking to reauthorize the Animal Drug User Fee Act and include in it provisions to help preserve the efficacy of antibiotics vital to protecting public health. More info |
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| Jul 27, 2012 |
What Did Pew Health Group Find in its Review of the U.S. Food Additive Regulatory Program?In the November 1, 2011, edition of the peer-reviewed journal Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (CRFS), Pew Health Group published a rigorous analysis of the U.S. food additive regulatory program. Key among the findings is that more than 10,000 chemicals were allowed in human food as of January 2011. More info |
Food Safety |
| Sep 20, 2011 |
What Leading Experts are Saying about Emerging Drug-Resistant Infections and the Need for New Drugs to Treat ThemLegislators, regulators, scientists and academics agree: we are running out of antibiotics to treat drug-resistant infections—and we need new ones now. Here is what leading voices are saying about how economic, scientific and regulatory factors are impeding the development of new antibiotics, and what we can do about it. More info |
Antibiotic Innovation |
| May 8, 2011 |
What Moms Need to Know About Antibiotic Resistance and Food Animal ProductionThe antibiotics our families depend on to treat dangerous infections are rapidly losing their effectiveness, posing a particular threat to our children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases. Part of the problem has been the misuse of these drugs in humans, but another key contributor is |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Mar 1, 2012 |
When Multiple Bugs Strike: The Story of Alice BrennanA healthy immune system may be all the protection someone needs to overcome a bacterial infection, but once one disease takes hold, it may beget more illnesses. Such is often the case with Clostridium difficile, a potentially deadly bacterium that can flourish in the wake of other infections. Senior citizens, such as Alice Brennan, are particularly vulnerable and serve as a reminder that new and powerful antibiotics are needed as protection from dangerous bacterial threats. More info |
Antibiotic Innovation |
| Sep 12, 2012 |
Written Statement of Record Regarding the Sunshine Act by Dr. Daniel J. Carlat of the Pew Health GroupDr. Daniel Carlat, Director of the Pew Prescription Project, appeared before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging to testify about the importance of implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act as quickly as possible. More info |
Drug Manufacturing and Distribution, Conflicts of Interest |
