Which agency is responsible for overseeing the safety and efficacy of medications before they are marketed?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for overseeing the safety and efficacy of medications before they are marketed. This role is crucial in ensuring that medications meet strict standards for safety, quality, and effectiveness, which are assessed through a comprehensive review of clinical trial data provided by pharmaceutical companies. The FDA evaluates the scientific evidence from these trials to determine whether a medication can be safely used and whether it does what it claims it can do.

In contrast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) primarily focuses on public health and safety, disease prevention, and epidemiological research rather than the direct regulation of medications. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) deals with consumer protection and antitrust issues, ensuring fair practices in commerce, including advertising but not the safety of medications. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts and supports medical research but does not regulate the approval process for new drugs. Therefore, among the listed agencies, the FDA is the one that specifically governs the pre-marketing evaluation of pharmaceuticals, ensuring that only safe and effective medications reach consumers.