Consumer Health Nonprofit Demands Removal Of Conflicted Pharma Interest From FDA Advisory Committee

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Turner, Board Chair of Citizens for Health, a D.C. based consumer-health non-profit, issued a letter to the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, demanding the removal of Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) from FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) due to obvious conflicts as a result of Pew lobbying with pharmaceutical interests.

Pharmacy compounding is an individualized, cost-effective approach to health care, and provides millions of patients with access to medications prepared specifically for their individual needs. As part of FDA's oversight of pharmacy compounding, PCAC was created in 2014 and provides recommendations to FDA on ingredients and categories of medications that can be used in human compounding. The committee is comprised of twelve voting members, and two non-voting members. Pew holds a voting seat on PCAC.

The letter to the FDA calls attention to the fact that Pew frequently partners with pharmaceutical interests on public-facing efforts to restrict patient access to compounded medications. "Pew has lobbied side by side with Big Pharma and drug company interests and has lobbied side by side with them in a way that promotes the interests and profits of these companies over the public good," Turner said. "These companies have billions of dollars in profit at stake." Two examples cited in the letter include Pew acting as a co-signatory with several pharmaceutical trade and public health groups in communications to Congressional Members disparaging the practice of pharmacy compounding. Pew also co-sponsored a Congressional Briefing with a pharmaceutical industry entity that conveyed the message that pharmacy compounding was not safe which Turner calls untrue.

The role of PCAC is central to patients' continued access to compounded medications, and the committee must be comprised of experts who act on behalf of the patients and the public interest. Turner continued, "Based on Pew's frequent activities with Big Pharma, Pew has demonstrated partiality to pharmaceutical interests and therefore, the voting seat held by Pew is predisposed to act on behalf of Big Pharma. Pew will not be able to make objective recommendations." Citizens for Health strongly recommended the FDA remove Pew Charitable Trusts from PCAC to ensure consumers have continued choice with their personal healthcare and access to compounded medications.

Contact: Jim Turner at [email protected] 202 462 8800

SOURCE Citizens for Health

Related Links

http://www.citizens.org