Thread by @DonnaYoungDC

Concerns that politics are overshadowing biopharmaceutical makers' pursuit of successfully delivering safe and effective #vaccines against #COVID19 prompted even members of the drug industry to call on their colleagues to be more transparent.

"The issue of vaccine confidence is a critical one," said Merck & Co. Inc. Chairman and CEO Kenneth Frazier. "At the end of the day, the most important thing for us to do, is to reinforce to the public our commitment to safety as the number one thing."

#COVID19 #vaccines

While there is a need to move with urgency to develop a #COVID19 vaccine, companies must commit to not sacrifice safety under any set of circumstances, 's Frazier said during a Sept. 3 online briefing hosted @IFPMA.

#FDA #CDC #NIH #vaccines #pharma #biotech #WarpSpeed

The loss of trust in societal institutions has been unfortunate, 's Frazier said. It is critical for the drug industry to commit to "first do no harm," he said.

#COVID19 #pharma #biotech #vaccines #FDA #CDC #NIH

.@IAmBiotech leaders urged their members to ensure they use best practices in conducting clinical trials to assure credibility, include diverse populations & disclose data at well-respected scientific meetings or in independent peer review journals and not in press releases.
#FDA

A growing number of scientists, public health experts & lawmakers have raised concerns about Trump's recent remarks that he wants a #COVID19 vaccine by Nov. 3 election & @MarkMeadows' admission the White House was willing to put "heat" on regulators if they "don't see the light."

Recent remarks by @SteveFDA have also raised eyebrows.

.@ASTHO said it was concerned Hahn said he was willing to grant EUAs to #COVID19 #vaccines before they have completed late-stage human testing — an action the #FDA chief predicted could come before election day.

#WarpSpeed

.@NIHDirector & #NIAID Director Anthony Fauci said it was highly unlikely for any #COVID19 vaccine data to be ready for the #FDA's review in October.
Fauci said it was only "guesstimates" people were making about having successful phase 3 data available in October.

#vaccines

#WarpSpeed's Moncef Slaoui also said it was "extremely unlikely" for there to be a #COVID19 vaccine ready to distribute before the Nov. 3 election.

#vaccines #FDA #CDC #NIH #pharma #biotech

Slaoui told @sciencecohen in a Sept. 3 interview the #WarpSpeed chief scientific adviser would "immediately resign if there is undue interference" in the #FDA granting an EUA to a #COVID19 vaccine without the data to support it.

#vaccines #pharma #biotech

.@SenatorDurbin asked 7 drug companies if they were concerned about the perception corners are being cut because of political interference and the impact that may have on reducing vaccine uptake in certain populations.

#COVID19 #vaccines #pharma #biotech #FDA #NIH #CDC