In the first episode of our new Health Matters podcast, Wendy Lund of Health@WPP sits down with Peter Pitts, former FDA Associate Commissioner and current president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (CMPI), to discuss the state of communications in health care amid recent regulatory shifts. Pitts shares a cautiously optimistic outlook for the FDA under Commissioner Makary, noting the agency's renewed focus on innovation, patient engagement and modernization. He also stresses the importance of alignment among marketing, legal and regulatory teams—what he calls “regulatory therapy”—to ensure health communications serve the public good.
The conversation spans high-stakes topics such as direct-to-consumer advertising, misinformation, and shifting PDUFA timelines. Pitts urges both regulators and industry leaders to embrace greater transparency, prioritize, collaboration, and continue to put patients first with all communications. Pitts also urges the FDA to learn from industry on how to better engage the public. For more insights—and a candid look at where the health care conversation must evolve to navigate the current regulatory landscape —tune in to the full episode.