Dr. Torti joined the FDA in May, just as the tainted heparin scandal was still brewing at the agency. Dr. Von Eschenbach recruited Dr. Torti to “help bolster the agency’s scientific infrastructure,” according to the news story.

Last year more than 80 Americans died and hundreds more became ill after they received injections of the blood thinner heparin. An investigation revealed that batches of heparin manufactured in China had been contaminated. The FDA later admitted it was not sufficiently staffed to inspect all foreign food and drug manufacturing plants.

Dr. Torti bypassed Dr. Janet Woodcock for the interim FDA commissioner post. Dr. Woodcock was the FDA’s deputy commissioner for scientific and medical programs, chief medical officer, and acting director of its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. She had been favorite choice for the post by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Congressional critics claimed she was too closely tied to pharmaceutical groups and cited serious drug safety issues under her watch, including the tainted heparin scandal.

SOURCE: Heparin Recall › Torti named interim commissioner of FDA