Re: Government scientists also worked as consultants for drug companies

[Guest guest]

NIH finds ethics violations in 44 cases

Government scientists also worked as consultants for drug companies

The Associated Press

Updated: 12:20 p.m. ET July 14, 2005

WASHINGTON - Forty-four government scientists who also worked as consultants for

drug companies violated agency regulations designed to prevent conflicts of

interest, a review by the National Institutes of Health shows.

The review centered on whether the scientists had properly disclosed their work

for the drug companies on financial disclosure forms, whether they had prior

approval to do such work from their superiors and whether they took personal

leave to do private work. In the 44 cases, scientists were found to have

violated one or more existing NIH rules.

In an additional 37 cases reviewed, scientists did have prior approval for their

work, had properly reported the work on their financial disclosure forms and

took approved leave when necessary, the NIH reported.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee asked for the review when it compared

NIH records to consulting agreements maintained by 20 pharmaceutical companies.

It found 81 cases between 1999 and 2004 where the agreements were not listed in

the NIH records provided to the committee. It asked NIH to investigate those

cases.

Violations called 'systemic and severe'

Even as NIH investigated those cases, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni issued a ban

on NIH employees consulting with drug and biotechnology companies. The agency

also issued ethics rules that it is monitoring before making permanent.

The chairman of the committee, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said the agencys

findings revealed the ethics problems at NIH were worse than he had anticipated.

These findings indicate that the ethical problems are more systemic and severe

than previously known, Barton said. They also demonstrate the need for NIH to

issue the final ethics rule as soon as possible.

Of the 44 scientists found to have violated agency rules, 36 are still employed

at NIH and have been referred for possible disciplinary action. Nine of those

thirty-six have also been referred to the HHS Office of Inspector General for

investigation of possible criminal violations.

Zerhouni made the details of the NIH investigation known in a letter to the

committee dated July 8. The findings were released, despite Zerhouni asking that

they be treated as confidential.

You have my pledge that I will continue to work with the committee on this

matter as we move forward by correcting deficiencies and ensuring public trust,

Zerhouni said.

Committee leaders released the data and letter anyway because of the compelling

public interest, said Schweers, a spokesman for the panel.

© 2005 MSNBC.com

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8571458/

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