Committee Issues Subpoena to Head of Facility Linked to Meningitis Outbreak

Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, November 14
Nov 6, 2012

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), after consultation with Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), today issued a subpoena for Barry Cadden, New England Compounding Center Co-owner and Managing Pharmacist, to appear before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on November 14, 2012, to testify about the deadly meningitis outbreak. Through his counsel, Cadden has declined to appear voluntarily.

Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman said, “With more than 400 people infected and 30 deaths, it is critical that we hear directly from the head of the facility linked to the outbreak. Since Mr. Cadden has indicated he will not appear voluntarily, we are left with no choice but to issue a subpoena. We urge Barry Cadden to put the public health first and answer the committee’s questions about the deadly outbreak.”

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is scheduled to testify next week. The committee has also invited James Coffey, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy.