Glaxo Scum Kline
News of yet another drugmaker using ghostwriters to promote its drugs, writes Matthew Perrone in the SD Trib:
WASHINGTON -- Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline used a sophisticated ghostwriting program to promote its antidepressant Paxil, allowing doctors to take credit for medical journal articles mainly written by company consultants, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press.An internal company memo instructs salespeople to approach physicians and offer to help them write and publish articles about their positive experiences prescribing the drug.
Known as the CASPPER program, the paper explains how the company can help physicians with everything from "developing a topic," to "submitting the manuscript for publication."
The document was uncovered by the Baum Hedlund PC law firm of Los Angeles, which is representing hundreds of former Paxil users in personal injury and wrongful death suits against GlaxoSmithKline. The firm alleges the company downplayed several risks connected with its drug, including increased suicidal behavior and birth defects.
A spokeswoman for London-based Glaxo said the published articles noted any assistance to the main authors.
"The program was not heavily used and was discontinued a number of years ago," said Mary Anne Rhyne.
Like, in 2002, according to Perrone's article. Wow, that makes all the difference.
wow. Another pharma company that lies and manipulates data in order to make money.
About as surprising as the couchsurfing - rapesurfing article.
Karen at August 20, 2009 6:20 AM
I don't feel the outrage, sorry. Everybody, including the government, is advocating for themselves. The only testimonial I'd give any weight to is one from a friend, and even there results are not guaranteed. This is just more drug company advertising. The law firm is presenting its case, looking for their third of the action.
Until the government gets its way, your doctor works for you. Find one you can trust. Get his opinion, and check online or get a second opinion if you don't feel comfortable.
If something is important, it's important enough to do your own research. With Google, it's not even difficult. People put more time into buying cars than they do into their lives.
MarkD at August 20, 2009 7:48 AM
hmmm, I sonder what program they have been using since 2002... we don't need no stinkin' scientific validity...
SwissArmyD at August 20, 2009 7:56 AM
All pretense that it wasn't all just about money disappeared when ads began urging us to "ask your doctor"!
Jay R at August 20, 2009 11:03 AM
Doesn't it? There's a big difference between someone who stops on their own and someone who stops because they've been caught.
Pseudonym at August 20, 2009 12:40 PM
There are certain functions that government does have.
Protecting the public from blatant conflicts of interest that abuse the public trust or public health happens to be one of them, but they're to busy right now trying to decide how they can make healthcare work for the whole population the way they did for medicare & medicaid.
Robert at August 20, 2009 5:13 PM
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