FDA seeks probe into own nod to Alzheimer’s drug

NEW YORK: The

US FDA

on Friday called for a federal investigation of the process that led to its own approval of a new drug for Alzheimer’s disease that has spurred criticism from lawmakers and medical community.


FDA’s acting commissioner,

Janet Woodcock

, acknowledged the scrutiny the agency has faced about the approval process for the drug,

Aduhelm

, which has a $56,000 annual price tag. She pointed to interactions between representatives from the drug’s developer,

Biogen

, and the agency, saying some “may have occurred outside of the formal correspondence process”.