US FDA requests 33% budget increase to $4.3 billion

As US President Barack Obama submitted his budget proposals on Monday, the Food and Drug Administration is requesting a budget of $4.3 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President's fiscal year 2012 budget - a 33% increase over the FDA enacted budget for FY 2010. The FY 2012 request covers the period of October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012.

"FDA protects and promotes the health of all Americans through every stage of life," said FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, adding: "The breadth of this mandate means that FDA responsibilities continue to grow. The new budget contains new resources so that FDA can fulfill its growing responsibilities to the American public."

The President’s proposals contain a number of provisions relating to generic patent settlements and the exclusivity of biologic drug copies, or biosimilars, which have angered the pharmaceutical industry (The Pharma Letter February 15).