Study finds almost 40% of FDA advisory committee meetings in past two decades included members with active industry ties

Researchers examined FDA advisory committee meetings spanning the last 20 years and discovered that nearly 40% of those sessions featured a patient or consumer representative who had active ties to an advocacy organization.

The presence of such connections has sparked concerns about possible conflicts of interest, suggesting that industry-affiliated voices could shape regulatory advice and drug approval decisions.

The study adds to growing scrutiny of FDA advisory panels and may lead to calls for tighter disclosure requirements or changes in how committee members are selected.