Bill To Ban Conflicts of Interest on FDA Panels Moves Forward

Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) won passage late yesterday of legislation that would prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from placing scientist-physicians with ties to drug and device manufacturers on its advisory committees. Similar language passed last year, but got watered down in the Senate to an advanced notice reporting provision (which has been useful, but isn't as good as an outright ban which would open up these advisory process to the hundreds of medical thought leaders who conduct their research with government or foundation funds). You can read the Hinchey press release here.