U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal regulatory agency headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It is responsible for regulating the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics, products that emit radiation, tobacco products, and the nation's food supply.

Operating under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and other federal statutes, the FDA's oversight spans the entire product lifecycle, including premarket review and approval, post-market surveillance, inspections, and enforcement. The agency is led by a Commissioner who reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Innovation in this space is relevant to the FDA as the agency aims to advance public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable.