RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A challenge by two of the largest U.S. cigarette makers alleging conflicts of interest in the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel’s review of tobacco products can move forward, a federal judge has ruled.

In an order posted Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon in Washington denied the FDA’s motion to dismiss the suit filed by Lorillard Inc. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The suit filed last year alleges financial conflict of interest and bias by several members of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee and asks the court to stop the federal agency from relying on the panel’s recommendations.