AAM adds deputy general counsel

WASHINGTON — The Association for Accessible Medicines has named a new deputy general counsel. Rachel Sher joins the advocacy organization from her role as a senior policy analyst in the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Policy.

In her role at the FDA, Sher was the agency’s lead in the legislative process around the 21st Century Cures Act, offering the commissioner and senior officials guidance on the legislative and policy issues involved. In this capacity, her policy discussions with congressional staff focused on provisions that related to the generic and biosimilar industry.

“Ensuring the widespread availability of safe and effective generic drugs and biosimilars is one of the most important steps we can take in the face of today's spiraling healthcare costs,” Sher said. “AAM plays a critical role in achieving this goal and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join this team.”

Before joining the FDA, Sher worked for 10 years for former U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman as senior FDA counsel. In that capacity, she drafted and negotiated such major FDA legislation as the Drug Quality and Safety Act, the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act), the Food Safety and Modernization Act, and the FDA Amendments Act of 2007.