Bush expected to nominate adviser to head FDA

President Bush is expected to this week nominate Mark McClellan, a White House health policy adviser, to serve as head of the Food and Drug Administration, The New York Times reports. McClellan, a physician with a doctorate in medical economics, has worked with Bush to develop the president's Medicaid reform and prescription drug benefit proposals and has served as a liaison between the White House and Congress on Medicaid issues. He is expected to easily win Senate confirmation as FDA commissioner.

McClellan's nomination will end a 20-month search for a new FDA director, which saw several potential nominees rejected by Bush or opposed by the pharmaceutical industry. Lester Crawford, a veterinarian and food safety expert, has served as interim commissioner of the agency since February.