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by drzaiusapelord 4573 days ago
Because they're ultimately beholden to big business? I mean, we have no idea how many drugs work yet the FDA goes after 23andme and other organizations (selling stevia as a sweetner before they allowed it recently, etc), etc with questionable motives. I think there's an obvious double standard when it comes to big pharma.

I'm not attacking the FDA per se, but the entire USG. It seems like the buck stops with congress and congress is simply beholden to their financial backers. It doesn't help that SCOTUS is largely conservative (money is speech, citizens united, etc) and the POTUS's direction of the FDA is mystifying as well.
1 comments
refurb 4573 days ago
Ultimately beholden to big business? Tell that to all the drug companies who have either had their drug denied by the FDA or pulled after approval [1].

[1]http://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls/

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drzaiusapelord 4573 days ago
They played the game wrong. There are counter examples of drugs that should never have been approved rushed to approval.
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refurb 4573 days ago
I think my example is pretty good evidence that the FDA isn't "beholden to big business".
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drzaiusapelord 4573 days ago
Vioxx, Rezulin

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-whistleblower-resigns/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Graham_(epidemiologist)

I hope no one you know is taking Avandia right now.

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refurb 4573 days ago
Really? The FDA just removed safety warnings from Avandia based on new safety data.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/uc...

I'm not arguing that drugs get approved that shouldn't. My argument is that the FDA is not beholden to the pharma industry. Do the pharma industry lie sometimes and drug get approved? Sure, but that's not "beholden".

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