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The pharmaceutical industry is finally picking up the ball on the development of medicines to treat drug abuse (The Scientist, Nov. 26, 1990, page 1). The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has established a nine-member Commission on Medicines for the Treatment of Drug Dependence and Abuse to work with the National Institute of Drug Abuse to develop screening guidelines for member companies who want to send existing therapeutic compounds to NIDA. It will also help NIDA decide which medications are most useful in combating drug abuse. Charles Grudzinskas, director of new product management at Lederle Laboratories, expects that the commission will also try to persuade Congress to give companies more protection from potential product liability suits. For the first time in its history, the National Science Board has arranged a joint meeting...