[Comments on FDA Employees' Alleged Conflicts of Interest in Drug Approval]

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO investigated alleged conflicts of interest on the part of three Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees in the approval of a new animal drug compound. GAO noted that although the employees: (1) had prior associations with the drug manufacturer, they did not have conflicting financial interests with respect to the approval of the drug; and (2) did not get prior FDA approval of their outside activities, they did not violate the Office of Government Ethics standards that currently govern the appearance of the loss of impartiality.