<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">I would guess that the members who approved the drugs did not make the rules, making them blameless.  The drugs turned out to be somewhat successful, I think we can all support that.  The side effects were fairly rare.  All better than getting the virus for most people.  There is now Long Covid and it is a terrible thing, and some people were protected from that.  Change the committee rules, we are saying.  Good luck with dealing with a bureaucracy and civil servants, who cannot easily be got rid of.  Way to do it:  getting on TV is essential, far better than writing to someone.  Politicians take what's on TV very seriously.   bill w</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Jun 17, 2022 at 3:28 PM spike jones via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><br>
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-----Original Message-----<br>
From: extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat-bounces@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat-bounces@lists.extropy.org</a>> On Behalf Of<br>
BillK via extropy-chat<br>
...<br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<br>
>...I was also surprised at Spike's quaint surprise at the thought of<br>
government corruption.<br>
About half the funding of the FDA itself comes via 'fees' from Big Pharma.<br>
The FDA committee advisers are supposed to declare any conflict of interest.<br>
Royalty payments may be hidden, but there are ways round this declaration.<br>
Payments made AFTER the approval decision are not vetted. (Speaking fees,<br>
consultancy, research, expenses, etc.).<br>
See:<br>
<<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/opinion/fda-drug-approval-trust.html" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/opinion/fda-drug-approval-trust.html</a>><br>
and<br>
<<a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/hidden-conflicts-pharma-payments-fda-advisers-after-drug-approvals-spark-ethical" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.science.org/content/article/hidden-conflicts-pharma-payments-fd<br>
a-advisers-after-drug-approvals-spark-ethical</a>><br>
<br>
<br>
BillK<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Hmmmm... most disconcerting is this.  We gradually found out that the<br>
vaccines had more risks than we were told about and were far less effective.<br>
Now we are finding out they were approved by a committee which could legally<br>
accept royalties.<br>
<br>
I did misunderstand.  I know the ethics rules for the little people (us.)<br>
We were told they get more strict as you go up, for obvious reasons: the<br>
payoff gets bigger.  Now it appears they allow something at the top levels<br>
that would get your ass fired down here.<br>
<br>
spike<br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div>