The FDA-Industry Relationship: Adversarial, Cooperative, or Captured?
The relationship between the FDA and the nicotine industry is simultaneously adversarial (enforcement actions, warning letters), cooperative (PMTA reviews, scientific consultations), and—critics argue—captured (revolving door, industry influence). All three descriptions are partly true.
The FDA sends warning letters to nicotine companies—adversarial. The FDA reviews PMTA applications in consultation with the companies—cooperative. Former FDA officials work for the industry—revolving door. **The FDA-industry relationship is complex: all three descriptions capture a dimension of the truth. The relationship is not a scandal—it's the normal functioning of a regulatory system in which the regulator and the regulated must interact. The question is whether the balance serves the public interest.**
