Crackdown on conflicts of interest at FDA

The FDA has 30 advisory panels of scientists.  Consumer organizations are concerned that these panels have been corrupted by manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and nutritional supplements.  Scientists joining these panels are supposed to reveal any conflicts of interest.

In the past, if a scientist revealed a conflict and the FDA granted the scientist a waiver, that waiver remained a secret unless it was requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can take years.

Now,  the Senate and House have agreed to a compromise provision to the FY2006 Agriculture/FDA appropriations bill that provides 15 days advance notice when the FDA wants to grant a conflict waiver allowing a scientist to serve on an  FDA advisory committee.  Moreover, the FDA has to document  what steps it has taken to avoid appointing scientists with conflicts to its panels.  This documentation is required by the HHS inspector general and the Congressional appropriations committees.