Pharmaceutical companies have used financial contributions to improperly influence continuing medical education programs and to illegally promote their medications for unapproved uses, according to a two-year investigation conducted by the Senate Finance Committee, CongressDaily reports. According to a draft copy of a 106-page report, the investigation found that pharmaceutical companies, which provide financial contributions to CME program providers, have used the contributions to expand their markets for new medications. The investigation found that in 2005 and 2006, 24% of 76 accredited CME program providers violated at least one standard implemented by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and by pharmaceutical companies to limit the influence of the companies on the programs. Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in a joint statement said, "Committee staff concluded that the pharmaceutical industry has focused more on compliance with guidance for educational grants, but risks still exist for kickbacks, veiled advertising of drugs, efforts to bias clinical protocols and off-label promotion." In addition, Baucus and Grassley voiced concerns that ACCME and FDA have not taken a more active role in oversight of CME programs. "CME providers are not required to run prepared text by the FDA, ACCME or any regulatory authority in advance of CME programs, and the FDA and ACCME do not routinely place monitors in CME audiences to assess what information is presented," the report said (Edney, CongressDaily, 4/25).