WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), members of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, applauded the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., for creating a new task force focused on drug shortages, following their request for action.

“This is a real problem in Connecticut,” Murphy said. “I’m focused on making sure patients have access to the medications they need. I want to thank Commissioner Gottlieb for taking our request seriously and working to tackle the nationwide drug shortages crisis. This is a step in the right direction.”

“Drug shortages prevent patients from getting the drugs they need and drive up the cost of care,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I appreciate the FDA responding to our request to help us find the causes and solutions to these shortages.”

Last month, Murphy and Cassidy wrote a letter to Gottlieb requesting the Drug Shortages Task Force work with stakeholders and federal agencies to determine the root causes of the nationwide drug shortages by the end of 2019.

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