51
The principle that medicines should not reach patients without strong safety guardrails forms the bedrock of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA shapes decisions about which medicines reach consumers around the world, through robust standards for safety, efficacy, and post-marketing oversight in drug regulatory practices, with a 2026 budget of $6·8 billion. It faces a tough balancing act in maintaining scientific standards and rigorous review while bringing medicines and devices to the patients who need them as quickly as possible.
