The Post adds that FDA's own law, "Guidance for Industry #152", is putting pressure on it to approve the drug as no conclusive evidence has been presented showing that using the drug in animals will affect humans.

Speaking to the Post Edward Belongia, an epidemiologist at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation in Wisconsin, said, "The industry says that 'until you show us a direct link to human mortality from the use of these drugs in animals, we don't think you should preclude their use."

"But do we really want to drive more resistance genes into the human population? It's easy to open the barn door, but it's hard to close the door once it's open".

Developed by InterVet Inc, Cefquinome belongs to fourth-generation cephalosporin, which is a class of antibiotics that is used to treat a number of diseases in humans such as gastrointestinal diseases in children and meningitis. However many feel that using this drug in cattle could spawn drug-resistant "superbugs", which will be immune to the drug's effect in humans.

Some of FDA's own advisory committees, Veterinary Medical Advisory Committee and American Medical Association have raised concerns about the drug. The panels argue that the main focus of cefquinome is to treat bovine respiratory disease, common in cattle. However there are numerous antibiotics that are available in the market for the disease's treatment and all are effective.

The FDA has also been advised by New York Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter, who is a microbiologist, asking it not to approve the drug. "Over the past several years, the integrity of the FDA's drug review process has been called into question amid allegations that your agency has put the interests of industry and politics above science. Given the recent outbreaks of E. coli and other food borne illnesses across the nation, it is hardly the time to ignore the advice of scientists, and potentially impair our ability to treat deadly infections", she said.


 

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