Conflicting interests

A delayed decision on Ovation Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s NDAs for Sabril vigabatrin demonstrates how pressures to fence out scientists with relationships to industry are increasing the uncertainty of FDA's review processes.

Conflict of interest issues led FDA to postpone a Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee meeting that was scheduled for Aug. 6-7 to discuss two NDAs for Sabril to treat refractory complex partial seizures in adults and for infantile spasms...