The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the creation Thursday of an internal pediatric review committee.

   The panel, to be led by the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, was mandated by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007.

   FDA Commission Andrew von Eschenbach signed a memo authorizing the committee that will "provide consultation and general review of pediatric information submitted to the FDA in pediatric plans, assessments, and studies conducted by drug sponsors and applicants to help ensure quality and consistency across the agency."

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