FDA and challenges of drug delivery

YOUR APRIL 25 editorial, ''Let the patient beware," fails to fully address what is at stake for the patient and the Food and Drug Administration. The pressure to bring drugs to market more quickly is not coming just from drug makers -- it is coming from patients who may die if they do not have access to new treatments.

There is always going to be both benefit and risk in taking a drug, and all patients must evaluate what is best with their physicians. Further, we must balance safety with efficacy in reviewing drug availability so that patients have that choice. However, the FDA cannot achieve this balance and give the public the drugs they need without having what it needs: a permanent commissioner to provide leadership and funding to provide resources.

ELLEN V. SIGAL
Washington

The writer is chairwoman of Friends of Cancer Research.