In brief: FDA plan places monetary limits on its experts
By Times staff, wires
Published March 22, 2007
FDA plan places monetary limits on its experts
WASHINGTON - Outside experts with more than $50,000 in ties to drug and medical device companies regulated by the Food and Drug Administration would be barred from advising the agency under draft guidelines issued Wednesday. The conflict-of-interest guidelines would allow scientific experts who accept less than $50,000 in corporate grants, contracts and consulting fees - or hold less than that amount in company stock - to still serve on the FDA's advisory committees. But that could happen only if the need for their services outweighed the potential conflict, and only if they were nonvoting members, according to the draft. The agency relies on its panels of outside experts for recommendations on drugs, vaccines and devices. It wasn't immediately clear how many advisers would be barred, but Randall Lutter, the FDA's acting deputy commissioner for policy, told reporters it was a "significant number."
Applebee's will close 24 eateries
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Applebee's said Wednesday it will close 24 company-owned restaurants that aren't meeting performance goals. The Overland Park, Kan., company typically closes one or two restaurants a year. The big jump comes as Applebee's International Inc. is struggling with declining sales and a shareholder activist demanding the company sell off many of its 528 corporate-owned locations. Ten of the marked restaurants are in two New England states and the remainder are spread over nine states. No Florida locations are affected.
Mall of America wants title back
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Mall of America was the biggest indoor mall in the country when it opened in 1992. It wants its top spot back. The mall, now the nation's third-largest by retail square footage, is planning an expansion that would more than double its size by adding a 6,000-seat music theater, hotels, and an ice rink. The $1.78-billion project would add stores, too, including a Bass Pro outdoor retailer, and would connect the mall to the nearby IKEA home furnishings store. The sprawling four-story mall includes an indoor amusement park and 520 stores. "They have all the elements to keep people there for days," said Murray Shor, editor and publisher of Shopping Center Digest.
Bank of America tops diversity list
NEWARK, N.J. - The publication DiversityInc on Wednesday published its annual list of the "top 50 companies for diversity" chosen from 317 participating businesses. Bank of America ranked tops followed by Pepsi Bottling Group and AT&T. Among the Florida companies in the top 50: Jacksonville's Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Darden Restaurants of Orlando. No Tampa Bay area companies were named.