NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Wider Women’s Role in Drug Tests Urged

An AIDS advisory committee recommended that the Food and Drug Administration require that researchers include more women in all stages of trials for drugs for serious and life-threatening diseases. An FDA spokesman said the agency accepted the recommendation by the National Task Force on AIDS Drug Development and would act on it as soon as possible. Women and their advocates have complained that many trials of drugs to treat such diseases as AIDS excluded women, or only brought them in late because of concerns the drug might have on their reproductive system.