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  5. About MCMs
  1. Medical Countermeasures (MCMs)

About MCMs

The FDA coordinates medical countermeasure (MCM) development, preparedness and response.

The FDA plays a critical role in protecting the United States from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and emerging infectious disease threats. The FDA ensures that medical countermeasures (MCMs)—including drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests—to counter these threats are safe, effective, and secure.


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In this section

News & events on typewriter

MCM News and Events

Medical countermeasure-related news, events, and related links
Examples of MCMs include drugs, vaccines, and devices, such as diagnostic tests and personal protective equipment.
Examples of MCMs include drugs, vaccines, and devices, such as diagnostic tests and personal protective equipment.

What are medical countermeasures?

MCMs are FDA-regulated products that may be used in a public health emergency

More about MCMs

Graphic representing history of the FDA Medical Countermeasures Initiative (MCMi)

MCM collaborations

The FDA works with government agencies, non-government organizations, universities, and research centers to support public health preparedness and response efforts.
Hand holding smartphone with new email notification, with computer in background

MCM newsletters

Subscribe to MCM email updates and view previous newsletters

Publications and Reports

MCMi annual program update FY 2023

Publications and reports

View the latest MCM-related reports from FDA, including annual program updates

MCM mission areas

Gavel and stethoscope, representing medical countermeasure-related counterterrorism legislation

MCM legal, regulatory & policy framework

Helping ensure that U.S. laws, regulations, and policies support preparedness and response for potential CBRN and emerging infectious disease threats.
FDA scientist dividing plasma from individuals recently infected with dengue or West Nile viruses into smaller volume samples for distribution. These samples were part of a reference panel FDA created for qualified Zika test manufacturers, to determine if their tests can differentiate flaviviridae antibodies—that is, if the test can accurately show if a person was infected with Zika, dengue or West Nile, as antibodies for these viruses are very similar.

MCM regulatory science

Developing the tools, standards, and approaches to assess MCM safety, efficacy, quality and performance, and helping translate new technology into innovative, safe, and effective MCMs.

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