From “gold standard science” to biopharma “GNC store”, this year’s Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) 2025 Annual Conference in Washington, DC, on May 15–16, a vital gathering for life sciences professionals, was full of sound bites, featured two standout sessions: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Martin A. Makary on Day 1 and Congressman (D-Mass) Jake Auchincloss on Day 2. Their talks, of course, revealed stark differences in approach—Dr. Makary’s forward-looking optimism and Mr. Auchincloss’s calls for concern—yet shared a commitment to advancing innovation and protecting the core of the agency. To be sure, much of what was said (aside from Dr. Makary’s now widely reported-on comment about a new vaccine framework) was not new, but there are a number of industry takeaways when viewed together and in the context of the conference itself.Continue Reading Reflections on the FDLI 2025 Annual Conference – Differing Tones, Shared Goals