Dems Win FDA Reform Measures in House

House Democrats led by Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) inched forward on another measure yesterday that would curb the power of the drug industry. Her amendment to the Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill would force drug companies to conduct post-marketing safety clinical trials ordered by the FDA or risk having the drug withdrawn from the market. Annual reports produced at the FDA show that about two-thirds of post-approval trials promised at the time of approval never get done.

This newfound power among House Democrats (yesterday, I reported that the same Appropriations committee passed Rep. Maurice Hinchey's amendment banning scientists with conflicts of interest from serving on FDA advisory panels) suggests that Big Pharma's rock-bottom public approval ratings, coupled with the sinking Republican poll numbers, adds up to declining clout on Capitol Hill -- a long overdue event.