This post was written by Erin A. Janssen.

According to an April 24, 2012 Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) report, a strengthened and modernized post-market drug safety program has resulted in a substantial improvement in FDA’s oversight of drugs once they reach the American public. The report, “Advances in FDA’s Safety Program for Marketed Drugs,” describes new scientific tools and enhanced capabilities that CDER contend give the same priority to post market drug safety monitoring as to premarket drug review. The report says CDER is also delivering earlier, more effective drug safety information to the public. CDER’s efforts include the development of new scientific tools to enhance detection of potential drug safety issues that occur once a drug is on the market and new methods for planning, managing, tracking, and communicating about those issues.