(BETHESDA – SEPT. 20, 2023) — This week, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) hosted its annual Regulatory, Scientific & Quality (RSQ) Conference, featuring presenters from across health care, government, and academia on topics related to over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, dietary supplements, and consumer medical devices. This year’s premier gathering of regulatory experts in the consumer healthcare industry was attended by more than 300 participants and included over 60 speakers and panelists.
Keynote general session speakers featured a number of top FDA regulators including Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Gerald Dal Pan, M.D., M.H.S., Director, Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, CDER, Theresa Michele, M.D., Director, Office of Nonprescription Drugs, Jessica Dunn, Ph.D., Policy Lead, Office of Policy in the Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Cara Welch, Ph.D., Director, Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP), and Christine DeLorme, Esq., Attorney, Division of Advertising Practices, U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Additional presenters included top executives from IQVIA, Haleon, Sanofi, Bayer, Kenvue, Checkable, Perrigo, USP, and others. Visit www.chpa.org/rsq to view the full program and list of speakers.
In addition to the educational programming sessions, CHPA awarded its 2023 Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Career Achievement Award to Dr. Edwin Hemwall, the fourth recipient of this honor. This Award recognizes individuals whose outstanding service and contributions to the consumer healthcare products industry have created long-lasting impacts in support of public health.
Dr. Hemwall has more than 35 years of industry experience in OTC product development and has made a particularly significant positive impact on Rx-to-OTC switch, medical claims, regulatory strategy, and FDA Advisory Committee preparations. He previously served two years at Bayer as Vice President of Product Development, 21 years at Merck in Product Development and Regulatory Affairs, and another 10 years at Smith Kline & French in Regulatory Affairs. Currently, Dr. Hemwall is Principal at the consulting firm Edwin Hemwall, LLC, providing essential consulting services to the consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical industry and advising global corporations, private equity firms, and smaller businesses. He is a regular speaker at scientific and regulatory symposia and conferences while remaining active with CHPA and other industry trade groups.
Dr. Hemwall has also published and lectured as a Switch and Self-Care advocate and has served on FDA’s Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors of CHPA, and as Chair of CHPA’s Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Committee.
“It is such a privilege to honor and recognize someone who has done so much for consumers and for our industry,” said CHPA’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, Lisa Parks, RPh. “Ed has had an exceptional career that has truly improved public health through innovation in regulatory science. It’s really thrilling to highlight a role model like Ed, who is an inspiration to this generation of regulatory leaders and future generations.”