Lawmakers Say FDA Better Clean Up Its Act

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By Evelyn Pringle (about the author) Page 2 of 9 page(s)

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"FDA leadership," he stated, "must understand and support independent science and it is up to Congress to hold them accountable."

But nothing about this survey is news to FDA officials. By use of the FOIA, the UCS and PEER, recently obtained a copy of a previously unpublished survey by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General from late 2002, that polled 846 FDA scientists, and with nearly half responding determined that:

Nearly one in five said that they "have been pressured to approve or recommend approval" for a drug "despite reservations about the safety, efficacy or quality of the drug"

Two-thirds lacked confidence that the FDA "adequately monitors the safety of prescription drugs once they are on the market"

Only 12% of the responding scientists were completely confident that FDA "labeling decisions adequately address key safety concerns," and 30% were not at all or only somewhat confident

More than one-third were not at all or only somewhat confident that "final decisions adequately assess the safety of a drug"

Despite the above results, the report published by the OIG in March 2003, included the conclusion that FDA scientific reviewers "have high confidence in decisions FDA makes."

On August 8, 2006, the UCS briefed acting FDA Commissioner, Andrew von Eschenbach, on the latest survey and discussed the political inference at the FDA. To restore integrity, UCS recommended that Dr von Eschenbach adopt and enforce three basic commitments:

(1) to ensure that data or results are never softened for any audience. Rigorous scientific debate must be valued at the FDA;

(2) to pledge to support scientists who speak out by taking adverse employment action against any manager who retaliates against a reviewer; and

(3) to commit to a culture that supports a collaborative process of testing and challenging scientific hypotheses.

Along with the recommendations, the group's August 8, 2006, press release said, "The FDA must allow an open scientific process and recognize the need for scientists to pose and answer questions without consequences related to their status at the FDA."

Critics claim that a major issue that needs to be addressed involves the rampant conflicts of interest among members of the FDA's advisory panels who have financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry. In November 2005, a new law was passed that required members of the committees to disclose all financial ties to drug companies.

The categories for disclosure were broken down into dollar amounts and time frames, such as less than $10,000 a year or between $10,000 and $50,000 a year. After reviewing the financial disclosure forms, the FDA is permitted to grant waivers that allow experts to sit on panels even if they have financial ties to a drug company.

However, on April 21, 2006, the Boston Globe discussed the practical effects of the law since it was enacted and reported that FDA critics "say the new transparency has changed little, and scientists who have conflicts of interest can still guide FDA decision making."

In less than 6 months after the law went into effect, the Globe determined the FDA had granted close to 100 waivers.

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