A government watchdog has called on the Food and Drug Administration to finalize guidance on handling conflicts of interest among advisory committee members. The review found that the FDA has frequently failed to share information about how it determines whether committee members have financial conflicts of interest.
FDA advisory committees play a crucial role in the drug approval process, providing independent expert recommendations on the safety and efficacy of new medications. These committees are composed of external experts who may have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, creating potential conflicts that could influence their recommendations.