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Klobuchar Addresses Medical Device, Health Care Leaders

August 23, 2010

Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar delivered the keynote address at a conference today featuring leaders from Minnesota’s medical device and health care industries.  Klobuchar highlighted the importance of medical technology and innovation in the U.S. economy and outlined how health care reform will benefit Minnesotans.  The conference was sponsored by LifeScience Alley, a trade association serving over 620 organizations in the life sciences field in Minnesota and surrounding states.

“Minnesota is a national leader in the health care community, setting the standard for high-quality, affordable patient care,” Klobuchar said.  “The medical device industry will help us continue to build a health care system that is streamlined, innovative, and able to harness the power of technology.”

In her remarks, Klobuchar discussed Minnesota’s medical device industry and the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report that addresses 510 (k) approval process.  Klobuchar stressed the need to increase consistency and predictability of the approval process and called for policies that balance product safety and product development.  Klobuchar stated that she will continue to work closely with the FDA as the agency determines which recommendations to implement. 

Recently, there have been concerns regarding changes in the FDA approval process for medical devices that have affected investment in the industry.  Venture capital investment in the industry fell by nearly 30 percent between 2008 and 2009, from $3.4 billion in 2008 to $2.5 billion in 2009.

Last month, Klobuchar met with FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to discuss the medical device approval process.  In June, Klobuchar chaired a hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion that explored the need for a transparent and efficient path for approving new medical devices. 

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