The process for developing, producing, and marketing a new drug is longer than we might think. The Food and Drug Administration puts every drug that will see itself in the public domain through a rigorous testing process. A drug company cannot get through this process with just their own company representatives. An FDA consultant is needed.
An FDA consultant is someone who formerly worked for the Food and Drug Administration, but who now works as an independent contractor. When a drug company hires an FDA consultant, they will be represented by someone who knows the ins and outs of the drug development process. They will act as a critical intermediary in the approval process. Since the drug approval process is long and arduous, an FDA consultant allows the drug company to continue with their day-to-day operations without needing to concern themselves with the minutia of approval.
Another advantage for using a consultant is that they have the expertise for actually getting a new drug into the marketplace. The number of new drugs marketed to doctors and hospitals is enormous. Today, FDA consultants work with marketers to also raise the awareness of the buying public. When the public becomes aware of a new drug, they will likely demand those drugs from their physicians. The use of an FDA consultant has become critical to the financial success of a new medication.