Schlom said he saw no conflict of interest in his role with the NIH-funded studies that reported positive results using Taxol. His involvement related only to the studies' use of a monoclonal antibody developed at his lab, not Taxol, Schlom said.
Yet the studies used both drugs together to treat patients with ovarian cancer.
The antibody developed by Schlom, with a radioactive element attached to it, was given to patients who two days earlier took Taxol.
The researchers had hoped Taxol would make the cancer cells more vulnerable to being damaged or killed by the radiation. The positive results were consistent with other studies that suggested Taxol's value as a sensitizer to radiation.
"I provided expertise only involving the use of the antibody," Schlom said. "Therefore, there was no need for a recusal." Under recusals, NIH employees pledge not to participate in decisions affecting outside clients.
In addition to Cytoclonal, several other companies that have paid fees to Schlom have conducted cancer research:
* Jenner Biotherapies Inc. of San Ramon, Calif., a developer of vaccines for colorectal and prostate cancer, paid Schlom $71,000 from 1993 through 1998.
* AltaRex Corp. of Canada, a developer of antibody treatments for ovarian and other cancers, paid Schlom $17,800 from 1999 through 2001.
* Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc., based in South San Francisco, has tried to develop two monoclonal antibody agents for treating colorectal cancer. Both are being tested in an NIH-funded study. Titan paid Schlom $27,000 from 1996 through 1999.
* Biomira Inc., a Canadian company, is developing an experimental vaccine for lymphoma under a cooperative agreement with another lab at the National Cancer Institute. In May of 2001, Schlom collected a $9,000 consulting fee from Biomira. A spokesman for the company said in November that Schlom was no longer under contract.
Schlom said that he had not, in his NIH capacity, discussed or "promoted any of the studies done by the organizations for which I have been a consultant."
Until last fall, Schlom's ongoing payments from industry were disclosed in annual financial reports open to public review. He now files confidential reports.
-- David Willman
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About This Report
In late 1998, the Los Angeles Times began examining payments from drug companies to employees of the National Institutes of Health and the agency's research collaborations with industry. This report is based on records from the federal government and from companies, as well as scores of interviews.
