Accelerated evolution of breakthrough medical technologies such as drug discovery tools, pharmacogenomics and analyte-specific reagents could result from a new HHS effort to better coordinate cross-department product development activities.

A top-level internal task force on medical technology innovation has been created by HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to identify "steps that can be taken across the department to speed the development and availability of new medical technologies," including drugs, biologics and medical devices.

"Often, a new technology must clear several hurdles in different parts of HHS before it can reach consumers," Thompson notes in a May 19 HHS release. "By better coordinating this process across HHS, we can streamline the way we do business and make safe, effective medical technologies more quickly and readily available to Americans who could benefit from them."

The task force comprises the heads of the four primary health agencies within HHS: CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD; CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, MD/PhD; Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford, PhD/DVM; and NIH Director Elias Zerhouni, MD. Crawford will chair the group.

Speaking at a recent Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, Thompson said the task force "is going to examine the difficult questions: Why does it take so long, and why does it cost so much? How can we make the system more efficient? What are the flaws in the system that hold us back?"

A report on the group's findings is due by the end of the year.

HHS requests feedback on how the department can help stimulate medical technology innovation in a ¹ notice for comment slated to be published in the May 24 Federal Registe: " ² HHS Seeking Answers To Ways It Can Stimulate Medical Technology Innovation "r. The notice, which does not mention the task force, seeks input on several specific questions (see chart). Comments will be accepted until Aug. 23.

The task force and complementary notice seemingly builds on ongoing efforts within individual HHS agencies.

Shortly before leaving to head CMS, former Commissioner McClellan unveiled FDA's "Critical Path" initiative, an internal program to prioritize research, capitalize on R&D expenditures and streamline product development (³ Also see "McClellan’s FDA Legacy? Decisive Role In Product Development Priorities" - Medtech Insight, 22 March, 2004., p. 9).

Similarly, under Director Zerhouni's leadership, NIH is in the midst of implementing its "roadmap" initiative, which divides the agency's scientific programs into "discovery science," "applied science" and "interdisciplinary training" with the goal of bringing advances from bench to clinical practice in a timely manner (⁴ Also see "Interdisciplinary Teams Focused On Imaging Research Needed – NIH Director" - Medtech Insight, 8 March, 2004., p. 11).

The HHS notice points to recent basic science advances in genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics as potential harbingers of medical products that "can provide new hope and better quality of life for many Americans." The annual investment in medical research in the U.S. - including both public and private - could soon reach $100 bil., HHS notes.

HHS Med Tech Innovation Task Force To Issue Report By Year-End

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