February 07, 2006

Divided Loyalties?
Diabetes patients anxious to weigh the pros and cons of an experimental diabetes drug called muraglitazar might expect some help from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). But they won't find much on the ADA Web site. For example, there is no information about research linking the drug to possible increased risk of fatal heart problems. Also, the Web site has yet to report that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug only on the condition that its maker, Bristol-Meyers Squibb -- which last year donated more than $1 million to the ADA -- produce additional safety data first. The diabetes group acknowledges financial support from the drug maker in its annual report and on a Web page called "Corporate Health Ambassador Case Study," but not the precise amount of the donation.