The FDA Boss on the Agency’s MAHA Makeover

Jessica Mendoza interviews Dr. Marty Makary, the new head of the FDA, about his plans to reshape the agency and his "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement. Makary discusses his listening tour with pharmaceutical CEOs to modernize the FDA, streamline drug approval processes, and address over-regulation. He emphasizes the need to partner with drug makers while maintaining scientific independence, including removing industry members from FDA scientific expert panels. They also discuss a new system to fast-track drug reviews for companies pledging to keep U.S. prices consistent with other high-income nations, the implementation of AI (ELSA) to speed up scientific reviews, and the FDA's approach to COVID vaccine guidelines and measles vaccinations. Makary also addresses concerns about ultra-processed foods and the FDA's efforts to define the term, remove harmful chemicals, and provide better guidance on healthy eating. Finally, he raises the alarm about the potential dangers of 7-OH, a synthetic byproduct of kratom, and the FDA's steps to regulate it.