Drugs

Conflicts of Interest Seen in Meta-Analyses

Some researchers are complaining the meta-analyses, which combine the results of many clinical studies in an effort to make it easier for doctors to keep up with research, are affected by conflicts of interest in those who do the analyses. A National Public Radio report quotes Stanford University professor John Ioannidis, who has conducted many meta-analyses, as saying “the problem is that there are just too many meta-analyses.” He points to 185 such studies involving antidepressant drugs published in seven years. And what’s worse than the volume of studies, he says, is that they are increasingly being generated by scientists who have financial interests in the outcome.

“About 80% of them have been funded or have some other conflicts of interest with manufacturers of these drugs,” Ioannidis says. “If you look at what their conclusions are, those that have been authored by industry employees, practically all of them, with one exception, have claimed that there are no caveats about antidepressants.” He says that one has to look deep into the studies to find warnings about potential suicide risks, for example.

Other professors quoted in the story make the same point about financial conflicts of interest and also cite concerns about competing study designs that can affect a study’s outcome and studies that reflect the personal beliefs of the investigator.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome