Tuesday, February 15, 2005
The US acts over drug scares
Action is needed in this area, but will this approach work? I get the impression this is a case of asking the imates to guard the aslyum. It is the FDAA that is flawed, and the fact that big pharma is able to game the regulation of drugs. Work is needed to fix the review system itself.
American regulators yesterday tried to restore confidence in the battered drugs industry by announcing the formation of an independent board to monitor the safety of drugs on the market. The move comes on the eve of a crucial hearing to investigate certain painkilling drugs.
American regulators yesterday tried to restore confidence in the battered drugs industry by announcing the formation of an independent board to monitor the safety of drugs on the market. The move comes on the eve of a crucial hearing to investigate certain painkilling drugs.
The Food and Drug Administration appears to be restricting the information that will be presented at the three-day hearing, beginning today, into the safety of arthritis drugs such as the withdrawn painkiller Vioxx.
The FDA said the proposed Drug Safety Oversight Board would keep medicines under review and alert doctors and patients to emergent risks. It is an important change to the industry, as the US has around half the world drugs market. (more)
