Panel accepts AIDS research findings
WASHINGTON “”mdash; Controversial U.S. research in Africa that
violated federal patient protection rules was nevertheless
conducted well enough to support its conclusions that the AIDS drug
nevirapine could be used safely to protect babies, an expert
scientific panel has concluded.
“The committee finds that there is no reason based in
ethical concerns about the design or implementation of the study
that would justify excluding its findings from use in scientific
and policy deliberations,” the Institute of Medicine panel
said in a report first obtained by The Associated Press.
The report, released Thursday, will have implications in both
Africa, where medical officials are debating whether to withdraw
the drug, and in the United States, where investigators are
examining whether U.S. research is complying with federal law.
Environmental Protection Agency balks at
study
WASHINGTON “”mdash; The Environmental Protection Agency
won’t rush to cancel a study on how pesticides affect
children despite threats from Senate Democrats to hold up
confirmation of the new EPA administrator until the study is
canned.
Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Bill Nelson of
Florida demanded Wednesday that EPA end the study, saying they will
block a Senate vote on the confirmation of Stephen Johnson to be
the agency’s administrator. But the agency said Thursday it
is awaiting a report from a science advisory panel before it
decides whether to cancel the planned study. EPA has suspended the
study and the advisory panel’s report is not expected until
May, said EPA spokesman Rich Hood.
Compiled from Bruin wire services.