Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4190

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: Journal Article

Hillman AL, Eisenberg JM, Pauly MV, Bloom BS, Glick H, Kinosian B, Schwartz JS.
Avoiding bias in the conduct and reporting of cost-effectiveness research sponsored by pharmaceutical companies.
N Engl J Med 1991 May 9; 324:(19):1362-5

Abstract:

Because of the growing focus on containing health care costs, pharmaceutical companies are trying to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of their products relative to alternatives. This article explores the conduct of industry-sponsored economic analysis and offers examples of some specific biases that may occur because of the behaviour of the investigator, the sponsoring company or both. It explores whether there is a role for regulation by the Food and Drug Administration and finally offers suggestions for structuring the relationship between industry and academia so that bias is minimized in economic analyses of pharmaceuticals.

Keywords:
*analysis/United States/drug company sponsored research/Food and Drug Administration/FDA/pharmacoeconomic analysis/relationship between medical profession and industry/publication bias/regulation of promotion/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: INDUSTRY/INFORMATION FROM INDUSTRY: PHARMACOECONOMIC ANALYSIS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION/SPONSORSHIP: RESEARCH Cost-Benefit Analysis* Drug Industry* Ethics, Professional Prejudice* Research/methods United States