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A proposed ban on consulting at the National Institutes of Health might make it more difficult to translate basic research findings into new drugs and therapies, according to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, who say they will need to tap new sources to provide expert help in ongoing research. The NIH announced in September that it would seek to ban its scientists from all outside paid consulting activities with drug and biotech companies for at least one year, while the agency reviews its procedures and develops more effective oversight systems.
"We will look elsewhere, to academia and research institutes," says Martin Mackay, senior vice president and head of research for Pfizer, New London, Conn. "But we would suffer, I think the industry would suffer, academia would suffer, and I do think, ultimately, patients would be affected," he says.
"There are a lot of experts in academia that we can ...
