14
Despite a myriad of tests and a multitude of patients testifying
to the safety and efficacy of DMSO, the Food and Drug Administra-
tion still enforces its go-slow edict on DMSO. As a result of the
time and money that it would take to encourage FDA to get this
compound onto the market, many researchers and pharmacological
companies have backed off in their studies.
There is very little that can be said in a complimentary vein for
the FDA for it has been a tremendous obstacle to the progress of
medicine. The FDA has been solely responsible for driving modern
medical research out of this country to foreign soil. Unfortunately,
the attitude that more regulations and prohibitions will insure the
safety of the citizens of the United States is totally distorted. The
fact of the matter is that FDA constraints have caused undue
suffering and the loss of life and limb to many of the citizens here
in the United States.
It is my hope that by this committee holding these hearings on
DMSO, the Food and Drug Administration will not only release
this drug for prescriptive use more quickly, but will also realize
that the Congress and the citizenry are calling for substantial
reform of the drug approval procedure.
I want to thank you again for the opportunity to make my views
known on DMSO and the need for drug reform.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Symms. I am glad to
know that you have introduced legislation proposing to reexamine
the drug approval process now used by the Food and Drug Admin-
istration. I don't know whether they are doing the best possible job
or not, but it is worth looking into.
This topic must be a part of the subject of our inquiry here
today. It has been charged that there is a tremendous drug lag in
America. It is also said drugs like DMSO which are not thought to
be patentable do not receive proper attention from drug companies
who refuse to push tests to get a drug approved with the promise of
financial rewards which come from the exclusive right of sale.
The people are entitled to the quickest and ablest determination
that can be made as to whether various agents which are proposed
to alleviate human illness and suffering are safe for the public use.
I commend you on the initiative in causing an inquiry to be made
into that matter. Thank you very much.
Mr. Lloyd?
Mr. LLOYD. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Again, I would like to thank my colleague for being here today. I
think you put your finger on it, and I also think my colleague, Ms.
Oakar, pointed something out to Mr. Duncan and indeed I agree
with Bob that we have to go slowly.
But I also think sometimes we find our governmental agencies
really hamper what it is we are trying to do. Am I being unfair in
that? What is your comment on that, Mr. Symms?
Mr. SYMMS. I think the gentleman is right on target. It is a
matter, again, that I think we have to recognize the nature of how
the bureaucratic structure does work and where the incentives lie
for those people working within the system. It is not that the
people at FDA are not good, sincere people and that they try to do
an excellent job. The nature of the bureaucracy is that if you do
take a chance and say, approve DMSO, and you are the person who
