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

All US FDA Product Centers May Merge Under Planned Agency Reorganization

Product reviews for drugs, biologics, devices, tobacco and foods could be consolidated into one office at the FDA, as part of a restructuring plan circulating that was obtained by Pink Sheet.

Pink Sheet Podcast: Understanding The US FDA Reduction-In-Force And Its Long-Term Impact

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss how the massive layoffs will reshape the FDA and its impact on the drug and biologics industries.

‘Highly Problematic’: Acting FDA Commissioner Paused Planned OK Of Novavax Shot

Former Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner is said to have asked Tracy Beth Høeg, new special assistant to the commissioner, to help reexamine the application. Høeg’s position at the agency is raising concerns about the FDA's ongoing approach to vaccine regulation.

Some Staff Say Makary’s First Speech To FDA Off-Target Despite Science Focus

Some employees were not impressed with FDA Commissioner Martin Makary's first speech to the agency staff, saying he did not seem to understand the agency's mission.

Makary Pledges To Uphold Gold Standard Science, But First Address Confuses Some US FDA Staff

Some employees were not impressed with FDA Commissioner Martin Makary's first speech to the agency staff, saying he did not seem to understand the agency's mission.

US Could Lose Its First Approver Advantage After FDA Layoffs

Mass FDA layoffs on 1 April were designed to spare product reviewers, but still touched many who are critical to the application review process or drug development, which could mean fewer treatments are brought to the US market first.