TEL AVIV, Feb 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald

Trump's administration needs to speed up generic drug approvals

and exempt some drugs from funding freezes, the CEO of Israel's

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said on

Monday.

"In the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), there is no

speed. I would like them to do things on a regular time because

the more generics we bring, the more savings we bring to the

United States healthcare system. So just approve them," Richard

Francis told Reuters on the sidelines of a news conference.

"Many of these products are approved in Europe."

He also said some drugs, such as Huntington's treatment

Austedo, should be exempt from funding restrictions.

As part of his flurry of executive orders following his

return to power in January, Trump ordered government agencies to

pause funds under his predecessor's signature climate and

infrastructure law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

"I don't think having Teva part of that and having Austedo,

a rare disease part of that is necessarily the intent of the

IRA," he said.