FDA panel members had ties to Yaz, Yasmin maker, government watchdog says
Members of the joint commission assembled to discuss the risks of Yaz and Yasmin had undisclosed ties to the pills’ manufacturer, a government watchdog has revealed. The Project On Government Oversight has asked the Food and Drug Administration to throw out the panel’s vote to keep Yaz and Yasmin on the market after it revealed that some of the members have worked closely with Bayer, the drug’s manufacturer.
The FDA asked the commission to make a recommendation concerning whether the birth control pills’ benefits outweigh their risks. The panel voted 15-11 in favor of Yaz and Yasmin, but a former FDA commissioner revealed four of the 15 votes in favor came from members with prior ties to Bayer. One of the members received at least $5,000 in consulting fees from Bayer in 2010.
The joint commission’s main concern involved recent reports that Yaz and Yasmin could increase the risks of blood clots in women using the birth control pills. These blood clots can lead to severe complications, including stroke and heart failure.