US health regulators will no longer get outside advice on arthritis drugs

The US Food and Drug Administration has eliminated its Arthritis Advisory Committee. This means the agency will no longer receive formal external expert opinions when making decisions about arthritis medications and treatments.

For decades, the US health regulators relied on specialized advisory committees to provide independent scientific and medical expertise. These committees helped vet new drugs and devices, adding a layer of public scrutiny and diverse perspectives. Removing such a committee means the agency will now rely solely on its internal staff for these decisions, potentially streamlining the process but also reducing external input.