10 Voters on Panel Backing Pain Pills Had Industry Ties -NYT

[Rose Siding]

Ten of the 32 government drug advisers who last week endorsed continued marketing of the huge-selling pain pills Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx have consulted in recent years for the drugs' makers, according to disclosures in medical journals and other public records.

If the 10 advisers had not cast their votes, the committee would have voted 12 to 8 that Bextra should be withdrawn and 14 to 8 that Vioxx should not return to the market. The 10 advisers with company ties voted 9 to 1 to keep Bextra on the market and 9 to 1 for Vioxx's return.

The votes of the 10 did not substantially influence the committee's decision on Celebrex because only one committee member voted that Celebrex should be withdrawn.

Eight of the 10 members said in interviews that their past relationships with the drug companies did not influence their votes. The two others did not respond to phone or e-mail messages.

http://nytimes.com/2005/02/25/politics/25fda.html?hp&ex=1109307600&en=78884bdf1cefd6de&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[lthuedk]

1. Then, those names, and each and every one,

should be on every wrongful death suit. They act like their ethics is untouchable. That is flawed reasoning.

[mod mom]

8. I agree. Contact any attorneys filing suits and make sure they are

informed of the names and connections. It will be one way of forcing ethical behavior out of them!

[MO_Dem]

2. Just as I figured!

I was thinking I'd become way too cynical, but this story proves to me that I'm not.

[Straight Shooter]

3. I was just discussing Vioxx with a friend this morning.

He's a cynic, and expects the worst anyway, but I am outraged that this drug has been returned to the market.

Does anybody remember Propulsid? Baycol? They didn't cause anywhere near the number of deaths that Vioxx has, and they were pulled from the market.

Hey, American consumer, American patient, a message from bush and his network of influence: "Drop dead!"

[Rose Siding]

4. This is so indicative of bias due to interest conflict

I understand that industry types have some specialized familiarity with product, but there HAS to be a balance of consumer protection representatives on boards like this.

If there's a drug with high risk, but still lifesaving for certain patients then adequate warning and indication for use should be negotiated. To instead flood the market for profit is just goulish.

[xxqqqzme]

5. This isn't news

just confirmation of suspicions.

[leftchick]

6. Panelists in FDA Drug Vote Tied to Makers (10 panel members)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050225/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/drug_votes_11

WASHINGTON - Ten members of the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) advisory panel who voted that a group of powerful pain killers should continue to be sold had ties to the drug makers, an advocacy group says.

A study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest indicates that 10 of the 32 panel members had ties to either Pfizer Inc. or Merck & Co., ranging from consulting fees and speaking honoraria to research support.


The FDA (news - web sites) issued a statement saying it screened members of the panel for conflicts of interest. "This transparent process requires the agency to carefully weigh any potential financial interest with the need for essential scientific expertise in order to protect and advance the public health," the agency said.


After three days of hearings on the drugs, known as Cox-2 inhibitors, the panel voted 31-1 to keep Pfizer's Celebrex on the market, 17-13 with 2 abstentions in favor of Pfizer's Bextra and 17-15 that Merck's Vioxx should be allowed back on sale.


Merck pulled Vioxx from the market Sept. 30 after heart problems were reported in some users. Similar questions were later raised about the other two drugs, prompting the FDA to call the advisory panel to look into the matter.

[KittyWampus]

7. Taking Medication As Prescribed Is A Leading Cause Of Death

It isn't just the corruption of the drug corps.

The Science has become compromised.

Corporate funding controls what is studied and developed.

[dbt]

9. Damn, I'm so old I can remember when

the Clinton Administration was the "most corrupt in modern times!"

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

10. More proof that capitalism works!

For the people with most money.

Just like a monopoly game, it can last for a long time when everyone starts with the same bankroll. Then someone becomes the obvious winner and the game will drag until everyone elses monies and properties are gone.

Game over.

[cmutt]

11. 10 on FDA Vioxx panel had ties to companies

Report: Panelists given consulting fees, funding from drug makers
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7031927/

Remember: In Bush's America, profit comes above everything else! Besides, anybody injured by unsafe medications can sue and collect their $1.50 in federal court now anyways. This is deplorable. How do these people sleep at night?

[cmutt]

12. Apologies!

I missed that this had been posted previously.

[4morewars]

13. Ambian ?

Didn't colon powell say they were all on ambian ?

[forintegrity]

14. these people are disgusting

and immoral!

[Robert Oak]

15. 10 panelists in painkiller vote had ties to makers,study finds

Ten members of the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel that voted to allow a group of powerful painkillers to be sold despite safety concerns had ties to the drug makers, an advocacy group says

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002190771_painkillers26.html

Big chant:

What

A

Surprise

[gottaB]

16. Congress should propose a placebo FDA

Probably safer than placebo congressional oversight.