As of late, the FDA’s public perception has deteriorated to the point that the majority of adults have a negative view of the job that the FDA is doing. A recent Harris interactive poll stated “that most adults say they are concerned about the FDA’s ability to make independent decisions that will ensure that patients have access to safe and effective medicines (80%), and their ability to effectively communicate safety concerns about prescription drugs to doctors and the public (76%).”

The survey consisted of 2,371 participants from May 12th to the 16th. The poll results found:

• Ensuring that truly innovative prescription drugs come to market more quickly (70%), with 21 percent of adults saying it is the most important function for the FDA to focus on.

In 2004, the numbers were reversed: then, 56% felt the FDA did a good or excellent job, while 37% felt the agency did a fair or poor job in this regard.

• Decisions concerning which brand name prescription drugs can be marketed as generics (63%), with seven percent of adults saying it is the most important function for the FDA to focus on.

• Decisions about which drugs can be marketed over-the-counter without a prescription (62%), with five percent of adults saying it is the most important function for the FDA to focus on.

• Ensuring the safety as well as the efficacy of new prescription drugs (58%), with 58 percent of adults saying it is the most important function for the FDA to focus on.

The recent downturn in popularity could be attributed to the FDA’s failure to allow Vioxx onto the market. With other bad PR events such as Taco Bell already slipping through the cracks at the FDA, I wouldn’t be surprised if their popularity drops even further next year.