WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) is applauding Dr. Martin Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and his team at the FDA for taking important steps to ensure that 1.5 million American patients are not at risk of losing access to their desiccated thyroid medications.
These medications have been safely used for decades, but last November, Congressman Hamadeh was forced to take swift action to protect patients after the FDA moved against desiccated thyroid medications after Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Director George Tidmarsh allegedly used his regulatory authority and official resources to remove desiccated thyroid drugs from the market to cause financial harm to a former business associate, Kevin Tang, according to StatNews.
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At the time, Congressman Hamadeh called for a withdrawal or indefinite suspension of any enforcement actions brought against desiccated thyroid drugs on or after the date of Tidmarsh’s appointment, at least until an integrity review could be conducted.
In his letter to Dr. Makary, Congressman Hamadeh shared concerns that any restrictions would affect patients who rely on these medications and asked what steps the FDA would take to ensure that patients’ access to effective thyroid treatment options is maintained.
Now, Congressman Hamadeh is applauding the FDA for granting enforcement discretion for NP Thyroid. In practice, that means the FDA will not take action to pull the company’s DTE products from the market while the company continues working toward formal FDA approval. This enforcement discretion is expected to apply to other popular brands as well.
“Patients who rely on this DTE product can continue getting their prescriptions filled without interruption. This is not a permanent approval,” stated Congressman Hamadeh, who vowed to continue fighting for these patients. “It is the FDA acknowledging that removing the product from shelves while the approval process plays out would harm patients more than it would help them. The FDA’s updated guidance page, revised March 10, 2026, confirms the agency is applying a “risk-based enforcement approach” rather than a blanket removal, and plans to issue formal draft guidance on compliance priorities by August 2026.”
The decision by the FDA is being hailed by patients and physicians alike. Dr. Brittany Henderson, a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in thyroid health, celebrated the news on social media, saying the “outlook is so good.”
“As I have said before, it was clear to me based on the feedback that I have received from countless constituents that the FDA’s action against these medications was likely not science-based,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. “So, I did not hesitate to question the FDA’s action that many of my constituents believe would negatively impact their quality of life.”
