U.S. House Democrat Says Agency Aiding Drugmakers(FDA defending Drug cos.)

[Robbien]

uly 13 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration interceded in lawsuits on behalf of drug- and medical-device makers including Pfizer Inc. in cases alleging the companies' products harmed patients, a move Congressman Maurice Hinchey said is a ``radical new direction'' for the agency.

Hinchey, a New York Democrat on the House appropriations subcommittee that oversees the FDA, said agency General Counsel Daniel Troy has filed briefs aiding the cases of Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and other manufacturers. The FDA said Troy acted properly and complied with legal and ethical standards.

The briefs responded to requests from the companies for support and break with the FDA's tradition of staying silent on state lawsuits against manufacturers unless asked by the courts, Hinchey said, citing unidentified legal scholars. Hinchey also said Troy's position poses a conflict of interest because he represented Pfizer among clients in his previous job as partner in a law firm.

``Mr. Troy is supposed to act in the interests of the public and the public health, not his former drug-industry clients,'' Hinchey said.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=nifea&&sid=a5_e9tccKfX4

[SOS]

1. Lucky for our "public servants"

that the Cayman Islands offer numbered bank accounts.

[struggle4progress]

2. kick for corporate favoritism

:kick: