There's some buzz in Washington that a new bill demanding an end to any and all conflicts of interest on FDA advisory panels may force some quick action on that score. The agency has proposed new rules that would govern the financial ties to its drug experts, but critics want even tougher guidelines in place as the agency grapples with a sustained loss of public confidence in the wake of a public uproar over drug safety. The FDA, and some notable lawmakers, say the industry and leading experts are so intertwined financially that any prohibition regarding any kind of financial tie would make the advisory panel approach to drug reviews unworkable. Look for the FDA to stick to its guns on this one. If you prevented anyone with financial ties to drug companies from sitting on an advisory panel it would be hard to gain much attendance.
- read the report from The Boston Globe