Debate Builds Over Drug Companies' Fees to FDA

Debate Builds Over Drug Companies' Fees to FDA

news.yahoo.com

FRIDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Controversy continues to engulf renewal of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), with the key issue being whether the law does enough to protect U.S. consumers from potentially harmful drugs.

The act was passed by Congress in 1992 to establish "user fees" that are paid by drug companies to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to review and vote on new drug applications. In 2008, these user fees are expected to total $438 million and account.

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This was a facet of the FDA that I was unaware of and smacks of a conspiracy between a government regulating agency and the drug companies. Of the 438 million dollars in fees recieved in 2008 less than 30 million is earmarked for drug safety. Clearly this system needs an overhaul

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)