This morning the FDA announced the development of new guidance steps to improve the FDA advisory committee process.  In light of recent debate over conflict of interest waivers and current advisory panelists, the FDA outlined a plan to address this issue while emphasizing the importance of maintaining the highest level of academic rigor and expertise.   As a non-profit organization committed to sound cancer policy, and whose board represents a broad spectrum of executive leadership from all of the top cancer groups, this issue is of great importance to us.  Friends of Cancer Research supports these efforts and agrees that the quality of the committee composition must be preserved when implementing greater clarity and transparency.  To sacrifice this risks the ultimate treatment of patients. 

Our Scientific Policy Analyst, Dr. Jeff Alan, is available for further comment at (202)944-6697 or jallen@focr.org.

Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Washington D.C. that pioneers innovative public-private partnerships, organizes critical policy forums, educates the public and brings together key communities to develop collaborative strategies in the field of cancer research.