EMA workshop participants seek more flexible COI rules

Representatives from academia, industry and national regulatory agencies told EMA the agency should adjust its conflict of interest policy to broaden the pool of experts available to participate in regulatory activities. Under the current policy, experts with direct or indirect financial interests in industry are prohibited or restricted from participating in EMA activities. The agency said that of more than 3,400 experts in its database, about 25% have some level of COI risk that restricts participation.

Panel members at the workshop suggested that as long as any conflicts of interest were transparent, experts should be allowed to participate in non-decision-making roles such as participating in scientific advisory groups or providing advice to regulatory committees. Panelists also said that to expand the agency's list of experts, EMA could provide some form of remuneration. EMA experts participate on a voluntary basis. ...