The U.S. Government's FDA Advisory Panel for HIV/AIDS Drugs
Roy M. (“Trip”) Gulick, MD, MPH, (Chair) Consultancy fees from two pharma companies (not identified) of less than $20,000 a year; and research funding from two pharma companies (not identified) of less than $20,000 a year (per 2004 AVAC transcript). Consultancy fees from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Triangle, Trimeris; Speaking fees from: Abbott, Agouron, GlaxoSmithKline, Pharmacia-Upjohn (now part of Pfizer), Triangle.†
Tara P. Turner, Pharm. D., Executive Secretary “Nothing to report”
Victor G. DeGruttola, Sc.D. Pharmaceutical stock ownership totaling less than $5,000
Janet A. Englund, MD “Nothing to report”
Courtney V. Fletcher, Pharm. D. (Consumer Rep) Pharmaceutical stock ownership totaling less than $50,000
Princy N. Kumar, MD Pharmaceutical stock ownership (including but not limited to Schering-Plough) totaling less than $30,000; advisory fees from Schering-Plough§
Wm. Christopher Mathews, MD “Nothing to report”
Kenneth E. Sherman, MD, Ph.D. Pharmaceutical stock ownership totaling less than $25,000
Lauren V. Wood, MD “Nothing to report”
Douglas G. Fish, MD (voting consultant) “Nothing to report”
Peter R. Kowey, MD Consultancy and speaking fees from pharma companies (not identified) totaling less than $100,000 a year.
D. Roger Illingworth, MD, Ph.D. Consultancy and speaking fees from two pharma companies (not identified) totaling less than $60,000 a year.
Rory P. Remmel, Ph.D. “Nothing to report”
Thomas R. Tephly, MD, Ph.D. “Nothing to report”
Ronald G. Washburn, MD Pharmaceutical stock ownership totaling less than $150,000
Matthew Sharp (voting patient representative) “Nothing to report”
Source: DHHS/FDA/CDER transcript, Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee (AVAC) Meeting, Tuesday, May 13, 2003. “NDA 21-567 and 21-568, Reyataz™ (atazanavir sulfate) capsules and powder for oral use, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, proposed for the treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents”; †per 2000 disclosure; § (per 11/02 documents)
Headline
Similar to the situation at the ACTG, financial disclosure forms for members of special FDA panels (such as this one) which decide the fate of new drugs are not made available to the public. Members who do disclose potential conflicts of interest (stock or stock options ownership, patent interests, consulting or speaking fees, research grants from a company whose products are being discussed -- or one or more of its competitors) are generally offered a special 'waiver' so that they may continue to serve on the panel.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request (Form 201) was submitted, but it seems that these disclosures to not need to be made on the public form (S278) and are therefore not available to the interested public.
NOTE: While the concerns of commercial bias, corruption and kick-backs expressed here are serious and well-documented, they in no way endorse or support a thesis which denies any of the following:
(1) That HIV is necessary in the causation of the immune deficiency syndrome called AIDS; (2) That HIV antibody tests accurately diagnose HIV in up to 98% of infected individuals after 4-12 weeks of infection; (3) That antiretroviral medicines, while far from perfect, improve immune function and can extend life; (4) That HIV is heterosexually as well as homosexually transmitted; (5) That condoms, when used properly, can prevent HIV transmission; (6) That HIV/AIDS is one of many serious public health challenges in many regions of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
