Michael M. Landa Tapped as Acting FDA Chief Counsel

By Kurt R. Karst –      

We learned earlier today that Michael M. Landa, Esq. was named as FDA’s new Acting Chief Counsel.  Mr. Landa, who will assume his new role on April 13, 2009, has a long history with FDA.  Since July 2004, Mr. Landa has served as Deputy Director for Regulatory Affairs of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.  Between January 2000 and July 2004, Mr. Landa served as FDA’s Deputy Chief Counsel, except that from March 2001 until August 2001, he was Acting Chief Counsel.  Mr. Landa also served in FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel as the Associate Chief Counsel for Medical Devices, Enforcement and Veterinary Medicine during various periods between 1978 and 1993 before entering private practice.  There is some speculation that once a new Commissioner is installed at FDA, the “Acting” designation will likely be dropped from Mr. Landa’s title.