FDA advised to act now

Washington, D.C. - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) musttake "prompt, substantial steps" to avert delays in its reviewof emerging breakthroughs in medical technology, the Lewin Group, a healthcare policy research firm, advises.

The report says that FDA's current policies and procedures are not readyto handle technological advances especially in areas like DNA-based testing,tissue engineering, nanotechnology and molecular imaging.