Sarah Karlin-Smith

Sarah Karlin-Smith

Senior Writer

Washington, DC

Sarah specializes in the policy and politics that affect the pharmaceutical industry. She covers the US Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service and Congress and other parts of federal and state government. Her work explores how government policies influence how drugs are developed and approved, what diseases are prioritized by scientists, and who gets access to medicines and at what cost. Sarah has covered health care since 2011. Prior to returning to the Pink Sheet in March 2020, she covered health policy at Politico for five years. She is a regular panelist on the Kaiser Health News 'What the Health' podcast. Sarah was selected for and attended a 2018 International Women’s Media Foundation reporting fellowship in Rwanda. In 2016, she attended Harvard Medical School’s media fellowship on bioethics and, in 2014, was an Association of Health Care Journalists-National Library of Medicine Fellow.

Latest from Sarah Karlin-Smith

Will Tidmarsh’s Industry Experience Translate As US FDA’s Chief Drug Regulator?

The long-time industry executive led several drug approvals but may have a lot to learn about the intimate details of application review and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Pink Sheet Podcast: CBER Director’s Political Spin On COVID-19 Vaccines And US FDA RIFs Finalized

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss CBER Director Vinay Prasad using an unproven theory to help explain his COVID-19 vaccine decisions and the impact of the recently finalized reduction-in-force at the FDA.

Prasad Cites Unproven Theory Defending His COVID-19 Vaccine Decisions

In defending his decision to overrule agency staff on three recent COVID-19 vaccine applications, the CBER director questioned the original timing of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine authorization, reviving a long-held, but unproven grievance of President Trump.

Access Risks Loom For All Drugmakers With Fourth Circuit Mifepristone Decision

The FDA law establishing REMS authority does not preempt a West Virginia law that would restrict mifepristone use in the state, an appeals court said, a decision that could have broader ramifications for the agency’s authority to ensure drug access.

US FDA’s Drugs Center Lost Hundreds Of Staff Through June With 600 RIFs Coming

The official separation of those impacted by the reduction-in-force and some others who are leaving the agency are not yet reflected in CDER employee gains and losses data.

Consumer Groups Have A ‘Radical Transparency’ List For US FDA’s PDUFA VIII

Development of the user fee commitment letter largely takes place behind closed doors between industry and FDA. Outside groups see the upcoming negotiation cycle as a chance to change this and other agency information blocks by reminding Commissioner Makary of his commitment to transparency.