“FDA Examines Patient-Focused Drug Development for Chronic Pain

On July 9, the Food and Drug Administration hosted a public meeting on the topic of patient-focused drug development for chronic pain. The meeting focused on two main topics: symptoms and daily impacts of chronic pain, and patient’s perspectives on current approaches to the treatment of chronic pain. While the FDA generally deals with pharmacological treatments, experts at the meeting specifically asked for patient comments on non-pharmacologic interventions and therapies.

The FDA is continuing to solicit comments on the topics discussed at the meeting and is actively seeking patient perspectives. As patients turn to non-pharmacological treatments like acupuncture, the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is working to expand awareness of the effects that our patients have seen in treating their chronic pain through acupuncture. We are asking patients who suffer from chronic pain to submit comments to the FDA describing their experiences, and how acupuncture and Oriental medicine have helped them deal with their pain in their daily lives.

More details about the FDA’s meeting and the comment submission process can be found here, or by searching “FDA-2018-N-1621” on Regulations.gov. Your comments can be submitted directly on Regulations.gov through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal (go to the link above and click “Comment Now”), or by mail to Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Comments are due by September 10, 2018. This Request for Comments provides an opportunity for patients to express their experiences with acupuncture for chronic pain and to demonstrate to the federal government the successes that acupuncture can provide for pain patients.”