Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12811
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: news
Probe Of Amgen’s Drug Marketing Widens As More Whistleblowers Come Forward /
Financial Wire 2008 Feb 12
http://financialwire.net/articles/article.asp?analystId=0&id=76932&topicId=160&level=160
Abstract:
A probe of Amgen Inc.’s has widened as more whistleblowers come forward claiming that they were fired or forced out for refusing to go along with unethical practices to boost the sales of psoriasis drug Enbrel.
Full text:
A probe of Amgen Inc.’s has widened as more whistleblowers come forward claiming that they were fired or forced out for refusing to go along with unethical practices to boost the sales of psoriasis drug Enbrel.
Two federal agencies and four state attorneys general are investigating the practices of the company.
Ex-saleswoman Elena Ferrante, who said she was fired in August 2005 after eight years of service, has alleged that Amgen’s sales force was pushed to encourage dermatologists to switch psoriasis patients from other treatments to Enbrel, even if they had common medical conditions Enbrel could have worsened.
Ferrante said doctors were paid to host outreach programs where they would laud Enbrel to psoriasis patients, even those with just a mild form of the disfiguring skin condition. Use of Enbrel, a genetically engineered drug that patients inject once or twice a week, is not approved for people with mild psoriasis, who normally get inexpensive topical creams or generic pills.
According to Amgen, Enbrel can cost up to $26,000 a year and is only approved for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis and can have severe side effects, even fatal infections. The drug also is used for rheumatoid arthritis and rarer autoimmune disorders.
