FDA FDA spends $270 million on studies to promote proposed deeming reg instead of researching e-cigs health impact on smokers who switched to vaping

[bigdancehawk]

Here's a related story on FDA funding members of its TPSAC while not funding others whose research proposals were rated as superior

FDA recommendations on grants prompt transparency concerns
FDA recommendations on tobacco grants prompt transparency concerns | Reuters


BTW I've known Adam Goldstein for about 25 years, and he's been a vehement opponent of tobacco harm reduction and smokefree alternatives ever since I met him.

Kurt Ribisl is more objective, as he confronted CDC Director Tom Frieden's false accusations about CDC's teen e-cig survey (to a news reporter) by pointed out that CDC's e-cig survey found that the vast majority of youth who reported using e-cigs were smokers, and that the survey found no evidence e-cigs were addicting youth.

I don't know how you can stand to be around the guy without whacking him upside the head. Doesn't he prescribe inhalers, patches, gum, etc.? Aren't those all "smoke free alternatives"?

EDIT to add: Bill, I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for you dealing with this mountain of lies and misinformation day after day. I truly appreciate what you're doing. It's a noble cause, as lives are at stake. If you're ever in the Kansas City area I'd like to buy you a gourmet lunch or dinner. (In this town "gourmet" includes Jack Stack BBQ ribs).

 

[DrMA]

I finally got around to blasting the FDA for this atrocity in spending public funds. Here's an excerpt from my comment to the deeming regs. Full text is posted in my ECF blog.

***********************************
Research by tobacco control groups is fatally and irreparably conflicted by their interests in continued funding from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (TMSA) and Big Pharma. The rise of ecigs threatens both these sources of funding. Siegel (2014) has discussed the lobbying efforts of Big Pharma against ecigs, and warned that these financial conflicts of interests must be acknowledged by tobacco control groups. Big Pharma has also recently launched a public anti-vaping ad campaign (http://www.amazon.co.uk/b?node=4933990031). Government funding is also a conflict of interest, since they also have a vested interest in continued tobacco payments (Decline In Smoking & Tobacco Bonds | Spinfuel eMagazine). In a recent presentation, Prof. Peter Hajek (University of London, UK) expanded on the conflicts and motives that taint and bias much of the messaging of TCI. In light of this evidence, all research from tobacco control groups concerning ecigs should be summarily dismissed and all future funding from FDA suspended pending comprehensive investigations for academic misconduct.

The FDA has a mandate and a moral obligation to protect public health by actively seeking and critically reviewing all the available evidence, as well as funding additional research that will further improve our understanding of ecigs. Researchers who are not conflicted by any current or previous association with tobacco control, Big Pharma, or Big Tobacco should be supported and encouraged to pursue these studies. Continued improvement and innovation of electronic cigarettes is in the interest of public health, not snubbing them by deeming as tobacco products.

Siegel (2014): The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary: It's Official: Big Pharma is Lobbying Against Electronic Cigarettes
Peter Hajek presentation: http://gfn.net.co/downloads/2014/plenary1/peter hajek.pdf
Peter Hajek video: Nicotine and public health - YouTube

 

[Anjaffm]

I finally got around to blasting the FDA for this atrocity in spending public funds. Here's an excerpt from my comment to the deeming regs. Full text is posted in my ECF blog.

***********************************
Research by tobacco control groups is fatally and irreparably conflicted by their interests in continued funding from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (TMSA) and Big Pharma. The rise of ecigs threatens both these sources of funding. Siegel (2014) has discussed the lobbying efforts of Big Pharma against ecigs, and warned that these financial conflicts of interests must be acknowledged by tobacco control groups. Big Pharma has also recently launched a public anti-vaping ad campaign (http://www.amazon.co.uk/b?node=4933990031). Government funding is also a conflict of interest, since they also have a vested interest in continued tobacco payments (Decline In Smoking & Tobacco Bonds | Spinfuel eMagazine). In a recent presentation, Prof. Peter Hajek (University of London, UK) expanded on the conflicts and motives that taint and bias much of the messaging of TCI. In light of this evidence, all research from tobacco control groups concerning ecigs should be summarily dismissed and all future funding from FDA suspended pending comprehensive investigations for academic misconduct.

The FDA has a mandate and a moral obligation to protect public health by actively seeking and critically reviewing all the available evidence, as well as funding additional research that will further improve our understanding of ecigs. Researchers who are not conflicted by any current or previous association with tobacco control, Big Pharma, or Big Tobacco should be supported and encouraged to pursue these studies. Continued improvement and innovation of electronic cigarettes is in the interest of public health, not snubbing them by deeming as tobacco products.

Siegel (2014): The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary: It's Official: Big Pharma is Lobbying Against Electronic Cigarettes
Peter Hajek presentation: http://gfn.net.co/downloads/2014/plenary1/peter hajek.pdf
Peter Hajek video: Nicotine and public health - YouTube

Excellent!