Health
Changes in FDA advisory panels
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 25, 2008
The Food and Drug Administration has made several changes in the operation of its advisory committees of outside, independent experts that evaluate products regulated by the agency. The changes became effective on Aug. 4.
Among them: A cap of $50,000 was placed on the personal financial interest an advisory committee member may have in all companies that could be affected by a particular meeting and vote. If a member's financial interest is more than $50,000, he or she will be unable to participate in the meeting. If less than that amount, a waiver may be granted to allow participation.
Advisory committee members also now will vote simultaneously rather than sequentially to avoid the potential that later voters will be influenced by those who preceded them.
Last year the FDA convened 48 advisory committee meetings on subjects ranging from the safety of diabetes medications to the evaluation of children's use of new anti-cancer drugs.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/08/25/hlbf0825.htm.
