House Speaker Boehner invited the president of Pathway Genomics to the president’s speech last night. Pathway was chosen because:
Pathway was chosen because it and the others “exemplify businesses and sectors hurt by excessive Washington-imposed barriers preventing them from innovating, growing and creating more jobs.”
But Pathway’s product a genetic test was flawed:
However, reports by the independent Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Food and Drug Administration indicate the product Boehner, R-Ohio, claimed was unfairly maligned by federal regulators was unapproved and ineffective.
And:
Reports from the FDA, GAO and the medical community show there’s no proof the tests actually work.
Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, told a House committee in July 2010 that he had seen faulty data analysis, exaggerated clinical claims, fraudulent data and unacceptable clinical performance associated with the tests.
“These tests have not been proven safe, effective or accurate,” Shuren said.
It should be noted that the CEO of Pathway, earlier this year, participated in a republican sponsored “job” forum and is undoubtedly a contributor to the republican “cause.”
Medicynical Note: Science? Facts? Proof of efficacy? Apparently are not the House Speaker’s concern.
Businesses needs regulation to not only protect the consumer but to protect themselves, from themselves–see financial crisis 2007-2009.
Medicynic 