Healthy Skepticism Library item: 68

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

Gerstel J.
Who benefits when doctors endorse drugs?
The Tortonto Star 2002 Aug 9

Full text:

New insulin and an insulin monitoring system were introduced by Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. and Lifescan Canada Ltd. A media release advised, “Top diabetes researcher Dr. Lawrence Leiter, endocrinologist and head of the division of endocrinology and metabolism, St. Michael’s Hospital, will be available for telephone interviews throughout the day.”

I placed calls to all these physicians to ask how and why they’re promoting products in news releases.

Endocrinologist Leiter told me he’d been an investigator for a large study funded by the pharmaceutical company of the new insulin, Novorapid. When the company asked him to participate in the product launch and speak to the media, he agreed. He says no honorarium was involved. “I was doing it because I have knowledge and expertise in this area,” he says, “and could share this with the general community.”

While the money for the Novorapid research went directly to St. Michael’s Hospital research fund, Leiter did serve on the advisory board for Novo Nordisk and has delivered educational lectures at company-sponsored meetings.

“I’ve done this for many other companies as well, all the companies involved with diabetes,” he explains. “I’ve done clinical research, been on advisory boards and provided educational symposia to physicians at meetings sponsored by them.” He’s been reimbursed for his time by all these companies, he says.