OTC Medical Devices

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today announced the appointment of M. Scott Furness, Ph.D., to serve as its new Senior Vice President of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs. Dr. Furness comes to CHPA from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where he spent more than 25 years in various leadership roles, most recently as Director of the Division of Product Quality Assessment XVIII at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s (CDER) Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ), overseeing the scientific review and quality evaluation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) section of regulatory applications and providing strategic guidance on pharmaceutical quality issues. Dr. Furness takes the role previously held by Mike Bailey and officially began his work at CHPA on May 6, 2025. He will serve as a member of CHPA’s Senior Management Team and report to President and CEO Scott Melville.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) released the following statement today after submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) regarding its Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Ingredients:

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Consumer Healthcare Products Association’s (CHPA) Health In Hand Foundation today announced its call for nominations for the 2025 U.S. Self-Care Marketing Awards. Winners will be announced at the 10th annual Health In Hand Foundation Gala on Nov. 12 at The Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia.

CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville released a statement today following the U.S. Senate confirming the nomination of Dr. Martin Makary to serve as the next Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by a recorded vote of 56-44.

CHPA applauds the introduction of H.R. 1219, the Oral Health Products Inclusion Act, which would increase access to certain oral care items, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and other everyday oral care essentials by recognizing them as “qualified medical expenses” that can be purchased with Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) funds.

“CHPA and its member companies look forward to working with Secretary Kennedy to advance policies that will enhance American consumers’ access to safe, effective, and affordable self-care options. With a growing demand for OTC medicines, dietary supplements, and OTC medical devices, it is imperative that our nation’s healthcare leaders expand access, streamline regulatory pathways, and reinforce public confidence through transparent, data-driven decisions. This can be achieved through the reauthorization of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA), Rx-to-OTC switch improvements, and the modernization of the more than 30-year-old Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today announced the recent hiring of Dr. Fred Meadows as its new Senior Director of Quality, Technical, and Regulatory Affairs and Dr. Caitlin Ondracek as its new Senior Director of Medical Science and Regulatory Affairs. Meadows will report to Dr. Marcia Howard, Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, and Ondracek will report to Dr. Jay Sirois, Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs.