Study ties FDA experts to companies

A new study by consumer advocate Public Citizen concludes that many of the FDA's expert drug advisors hold stock or consulting contracts with drug companies but are rarely prevented from voting on recommending new drugs. For the past four years the agency has required its expert advisors to disclose their financial ties to the industry. But the FDA can grant waivers to experts it believes can make an unbiased opinion about a drug. Significantly, Public Citizen concluded that none of the committee votes would have been changed if members with conflicts had been excluded from the votes. 

- here's the report from The Wall Street Journal