For Immediate Release
January 12, 2009

  

M E M O R A N D U M

 

TO:      Reporters and Editors

RE:      HHS IG report on FDA oversight

of clinical investigators' financial information

 

 

            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.