Some more promising news out of the FDA: they’ve created a task force that will look out how the agency can increase their transparency. As it stands now, details on the FDA’s decision making process for drug and device approval may be hidden under a shroud of “trade secrecy.” The danger is, without disclosing clinical trial details, some drugs may be perceived as more effective than they are in reality, and complete information about their safety may not be available to the public.
The New York Times cites three examples where that secrecy has prevented the FDA from releasing valuable information to the public: a popular heartburn drug was known to be toxic to babies, a diabetes drug and a pain-killer increased the risk of heart attack, and antidepressants were linked to increased suicides in teens. In each case, a more transparency could have saved lives. It seems like the FDA is opting to protect manufacturers’ trade secrets over ensuring Americans’ health.
For transparency to come about, existing laws will need to be rewritten and multiple Congressional committees will have to be involved. But this is too important a reform to be ignored or abandoned. The FDA for too long has sided with the interests of industry over the interests of the public. This could be the start of a promising shift in the FDA’s priorities concerning industry trade secrets.
In the media, see this editorial in the NY Times, this story in Forbes and this story in USA Today
