In the latest episode of the Health Matters podcast, Wendy Lund sits down with Peter Pitts, former FDA associate commissioner and current president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, to discuss the state of regulatory science and communication in health care. 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 missed PDUFA dates, with Pitts urging both regulators and industry leaders to improve transparency and collaboration. He calls on pharmaceutical companies to put patients first in communications and avoid blaming the FDA when approvals stall. Pitts also encourages the agency to learn from industry on how to better engage the public. For more insights—and a candid look at where the health care conversation needs to go—tune in to the full episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.