FDA still allowing serious conflicts of interest in decision panel experts: Newstarget.com

Earlier this year, the FDA announced a series of significant changes to its policy on conflict of interest in advisory panels. Up until now, there have been no rules barring experts with financial conflicts of interest from participating in the panels, which recommend to the agency which drugs, diagnostic tests and medical devices should be approved for use.

The FDA has come under increasing fire lately for its policies toward conflicts of interest. Because the FDA almost always accepts the recommendations of its advisory panels, critics have been particularly concerned that many of the "experts" that make up these panels have financial ties to the companies that make the products being reviewed.

Under the new rules, no one who has received $50,000 or more in financial benefits from a company in the previous 12 months -- including direct research grants, stocks and consulting fees -- may participate in a panel about any of that company's products. People who have received less than $50,000 in the past year may participate but not vote.

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The FDA still allows serious conflicts of interest in decision panel experts

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