FDA Avandia Advisory Committee Contained Paid GSK Speaker
In the last few days, it has been revealed that at least one member of the Avandia FDA Advisory Committee has been contracted as a paid speaker for Avandia manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline. Endocrinologist David Capuzzi did not promote GSK's Avandia, but has spoken on behalf of GSK's dietary supplement, Lovaza. Capuzzi voted for Avandia to be left on the market.
A different panel member also revealed he was paid to speak for Takeda, who produces Avandia's rival pharmaceutical, Actos. Abraham Thomas has not had a professional relationship with Takeda since September 2008. Advisory panel members are only required to report all financial relationships within the past 12 months, and since Thomas' relationship does not fall within this time line, there has yet to be an issue determined with his position on the panel. Thomas voted for Avandia to be pulled from the market.
The FDA is looking into the GSK/Capuzzi conflict-of-interest relationship, and will report their findings and possible courses of action to be taken at the end of this week.
