News in brief - March 20, 2000

Voters allow hefty cigarette tax to stand

Sacramento, Calif. -- California voters have strongly opposed repeal of a 50-cents-per-pack cigarette tax enacted in November 1998. Supporters charged the repeal was funded by tobacco interests. Opponents argued the tax would create more bureaucracy.

The tax has provided more than $600 million a year for children's health and preschool education programs and triggered a 30% decrease in tobacco sales.

Washington -- The Food and Drug Administration announced plans for closer oversight and more public disclosure of clinical trials involving gene therapy.

It will require that sponsors of gene therapy trials routinely submit monitoring plans. It will perform surveillance and unannounced inspections of clinical trials to assess whether the plans are being followed and whether monitoring has been adequate to correct critical problems.

The work of monitors, who are selected by and report to trials' sponsors, has been "less than adequate," the FDA said.

In addition, the FDA and National Institutes of Health will convene a conference at which appropriate monitoring practices will be discussed.