369 



jected generally to the airing of issues as to the efficacy of particular 

 drugs (p. 358) , and thought it was "pointless" to be concerned with the 

 question of brand names versus generic names (p. 359). The role of 

 the drug industry as a successful element in the national system of free, 

 competitive, private enterprise was stressed throughout. Subsequently, 

 Senator Dirksen epitomized the majority report as follows: 



The majority view is a voluminous fantasy which appears to be nothing more 

 than calculated review of choice quips, statements, and exhibits which were 

 presented by biased witnesses rather than a judicious evaluation of all evidence 

 presented, thereby making the majority views a boon to business haters and drug 

 industry baiters.^ 



III. Proposals To Stkexgthen Control of New^ Drugs 1961-62 



Various efforts were initiated following the close of the Kefauver 

 investigation, that may have been inspired by some of its findings. 

 Although the purpose of the hearings had been to look into economic 

 questions, tlie considerable emphasis by medical witnesses on the po- 

 tential hazard of existing arrangements for the introduction of new 

 drugs appeared to have diverted attention in that direction. Programs 

 were initiated bv the American Medical Association to strengthen the 

 providing of new drug information for the medical profession. A re- 

 view of the drug controls exercised by the FDA was undertaken by the 

 National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council at the 

 request of Arthur Flemming, Secretary of Health, Education, and 

 Welfare. In the Congress, identical bills were introduced by Senator 

 Kefauver (S. 1552) and Representative Celler (H.R 6245), April 12, 

 1961, that dealt mainly with economic controls but were also substan- 

 tially responsive to the appeals of the physicians for tighter controls 

 over new drugs and drug information. The proposed bills provided, in 

 part — 



For FDA to pass on the efficacy as well as the safety of new 

 drugs ; 



For assuring that physicians were fully and reliably informed 

 about adverse as well as favorable effects of drugs ; 



For inspection and licensing of drug manufacturing plants ; 



For establishment by FDA of official or generic names of drugs, 

 and making mandatory the use of such names in information and 

 advertising literature. 



Improved drug information program of AM A 



In the the spring of 1961, the Kefauver subcommittee opened a new 

 set of hearings, to consider legislation corrective of the conditions 

 identified in the previous investigative hearings. The first witness to 

 come before the subcommitee was Hugh H. Hussey, M.D., chairman 

 of the board of trustees of the American Medical Association. 

 Dr. Hussey told the subcommittee, July 5, 1961, that the AMA board of 

 trustees had "recently (May 27-28, 1961) approved a greatly ex- 

 panded drug information progi'am * * * to bring to physicians even 

 more complete information and sound, considered opinions on drugs 

 as currently, expeditiously, and scientifically as possible." The pro- 

 gram had four parts : 



» "Brief Summary of Administered Prices, Drugs — Minorltv Views bv Senator Everett 

 M. Dirksen." In Drug Industry Antitrust Act. Hearings * * *. Pt. 1, op', cit., p. 16. 



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