In Brief: Ephedrine inquiry

Ephedrine inquiry: House Science Committee requests information from FDA related to the agency's proposed rule on ephedrine alkaloids, published in June 1997 ("The Tan Sheet" June 9, 1997, pp. 20-23). The December letter, co-signed by Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and Ranking Minority Member George Brown (D-Calif.), questions the reliability of FDA's collection of adverse event reports used in formulating the proposed rule and requests analytical documents used to establish the rule's recommended dosage, benefits analysis and cost analysis. The letter marks Congress' second inquiry into the proposed rule; the House Government Reform & Oversight Human Resources Subcommittee made a similar request of FDA in December ("The Tan Sheet" Dec. 22, 1997, p. 9)...