Democrats have now subpoenaed workers in the FDA to determine how in the world they approved Ketek despite scientific concerns over its safety. The new antibiotic ended up killing people from liver damage. Turns out the clinical trials were falsified and at least one doctor has gone to prison. Still no one at Aventis or the FDA has yet to be punished, so well intentioned lawmakers are at least looking into it. See full STORY.
By Mike Soraghan
Posted: 01/29/08 12:01 AM [ET]
Frustrated House Democrats will try to subpoena several Food and Drug Administration officials Tuesday as part of an investigation into whether FDA criminal investigators sought to prosecute a drug company in connection with a flawed drug that killed several people.
The House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is to vote on the subpoenas Tuesday, the latest development in an ongoing probe into FDA’s approval of a respiratory illness treatment called Ketek.
Democrats on the subcommittee also want to look at the briefing book used by FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to determine whether he was misled when he offered testimony last year about the approval process of the drug before Congress. After his testimony, several members raised questions about whether he had misled the subcommittee.
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