NIH to Ban Deals With Drug Firms -- What Does This Mean?

The National Institute of Health will be banned from dealing with Drug firms -- What does this mean?

(PRWEB) February 3, 2005 -- The LA Times headline, from Washington DC broke the story this AM: "Under a far reaching reform to be announced today, all staff scientists at the National Institutes of Health will be banned from accepting any consulting fees or other income from drug companies, and the employees must also divest industry stock holdings, officials said.

Scott Hendler, trial lawyer with experience in pharmaceutical drugs who has detailed the "Top Ten Things You Need To Know about Pharmaceutical Drugs and the Industry" commented: This long overdue reform is a good first step in addressing the objectivity of these agencies"

"Congress needs to examine the revolving door between government agencies and private industry and eliminate the practice whereby government employees are promised lucrative positions in drug companies I theyre considered good team players" while at the agencies. This practice calls into question the objectivity of the regulatory bodies who are supposed to be protecting the American public."

For more details on Scott Hendler and Hendlerlaw, or to interview Scott, please contact Amy Krakow 212 699-9024.

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