“The reliance on very little research on addiction was a mistake,” said Margaret Riley, a University of Virginia law professor who helped produce the 2017 report. “Opioids have been tremendously profitable and the incentives to develop drugs with fewer negative public health effects have been limited.” But Riley said some of the FDA committee report’s recommendations “connect directly” with Robert Califf’s plan for a comprehensive review, are “within the agency’s authority,” and are steps that Califf could act on right away.