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# Name NIH in Drug Patent Applications: GAO
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/name-nih-in-drug-patent-applications-gao/
- Published: 2023-05-04T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T18:29:38.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5154370

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the National Institutes of Health (NIH) can do a better job of ensuring that recipients of funds for research and development of FDA-approved drugs acknowledge the government’s role in their work. Members of Congress asked GAO to review how NIH-funded biomedical research and development contributes to drug development. FDA is cited in the report for its role in drug approvals.

The [report](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105656.pdf?ref=fdaweb.com) says NIH awardees did not consistently disclose NIH support in patents arising from research into FDA-approved drugs funded by the agency. “NIH does not provide clear guidance that its awardees should name NIH as the funding agency and correctly identify the award number when disclosing NIH support in patents,” GAO found. “The disclosure of federal support informs the public and other interested parties of the federal government’s involvement.”

GAO recommends that NIH guidance clarify that awardees should name NIH and include the NIH award number when disclosing the agency’s support in patent applications. NIH concurred with the recommendations, it says.