January 12,2009

Grassley comments on FDA tracking of clinical investigators’ financial ties

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: Reporters and Editors
FR: Jill Kozeny, 202/224-1308 for U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
RE: HHS IG report on FDA oversight of clinical investigators’ financial information
DA: Monday, January 12, 2009

Below is a comment from Senator Grassley about a new report from the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-05-07-00730).

“It looks like the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to track financial ties is just as broken down as that of the National Institutes of Health. The legislative reform that I’m working for with Senator Kohl to require drug, device and biologics makers to report to the public the money they give to physicians would change the landscape. Information empowers watchdogs and the people they look out for, and transparency would foster greater accountability for all patients,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.