House Leader Challenges Selection of Reagan-Udall Foundation Member

An influential member of Congress is using the recent controversy concerning intimidation tactics GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) allegedly used to prevent a researcher from making public statements questioning the safety of Avandia to underline her concerns with the Reagan-Udall Foundation.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the chairwoman of the subcommittee that funds the FDA, expressed concern in a Nov. 1 letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach over pharmaceutical industry funding of the foundation, saying it has the potential of endorsing the approval of drugs based on lower standards.

In a Dec. 6 letter to von Eschenbach, DeLauro said the accusations that former GSK R&D executive Tadataka Yamada, who has been named a board member of the Reagan-Udall Foundation, played a significant role in the intimidation efforts should prompt a thorough examination of his appointment.

“This recent finding by the Senate Finance Committee … calls into question the vetting process the FDA used for the nominees to the Reagan-Udall Foundation board,” DeLauro said in the letter. “Clearly there is no framework in place to minimize industry’s influence on the foundation, and it would benefit the FDA to postpone all activities related to its formation until the agency can provide those assurances.”
 
She also is requesting the agency consider rescinding Yamada’s appointment if the report’s findings are confirmed.