By Martin Banks - 28th February 2011
We question whether this is appropriate
ALTER-EU letter
Transparency campaigners have challenged the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) decision to allow its former executive director Thomas Lönngren to take up an advisory role in the private pharmaceutical sector.
He started his new job just weeks after leaving his position with the regulatory agency.
Campaigners say the move "may result in a conflict of interest in the field of medical regulations at the EU level".
In the joint letter to EU commissioner for health and consumer policy John Dalli, they express concern that the EMA "did not adequately follow the procedures" outlined in EU staff regulations designed to prevent undue influence in the medical regulatory process.
The letter was sent by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (Alter-EU), Health Action International (HAI) Europe, the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB) and other public health advocates
Lönngren stepped down as executive director of the EMA at the end of December.
In a letter dated 28 December, Lönngren told the EMA's management board of his intention to take up a consultant role within the private pharmaceutical sector as of 1 January 2011.
Ten days later, the chairman of the EMA management board, Pat O'Mahony, responded that the agency had no objections concerning Lönngren's new position.
Prior to approving his future ambitions, the EMA board did not request any further details concerning his activities or impose any form of restriction to prevent a conflict of interest arising.
The signatories of the letter to Dalli question the lack of "cooling-off" period between Lönngren's change of employment, saying they are concerned that this may result in a conflict of interest.
The letter says, "There are currently several high profile dossiers on pharmaceutical policies under discussion, including the revision of the clinical trial directive, where we have concerns that a conflict of interest may arise involving Lönngren's past and current employment."
It goes on, "It goes without saying, that a former head of the EU drug regulatory agency has an extensive network and knowledge in the field, and this opens up the potential to influence the outcome of these dossier discussions.
"We question whether this is appropriate, and suggest that this damages public trust in the regulatory agency."
Lönngren's consultancy posts have included working for NDA Advisory Services, an agency that specialises in helping pharmaceutical companies obtain regulatory approval to sell their products in Europe.
"The European medicines agency appears to have failed to adequately check the potential for a conflict of interest arising from Lönngren's decision to establish his own consultancy and other new jobs," said Katrina Perehudoff from HAI Europe.
Jörg Schaaber from ISDB said he was "aghast" at the failure to protect EMA from undue commercial influence, adding, "Given the very clear overlap between Lönngren's previous activities and his proposed new roles, surely further questions should have been asked - and some form of restriction imposed."
Alter-EU Alliance spokesman Olivier Hoedeman, said, "When former EU commission officials pass through the revolving door - as happens frequently - it is essential that clear checks are made to ensure they are not exploiting their knowledge and contacts to benefit the private sector.
"All too often such conflicts of interest appear to be overlooked, showing that tougher rules and more rigorous enforcement are required."
