<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published August 21, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Ghost-writing ploy used to push Glaxo drug
Doctors take credit for articles written by its consultants
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</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(WASHINGTON) British drugmaker GlaxoSmith- Kline used a sophisticated ghostwriting programme 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.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#fffff1><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=124 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>'To create an internal ghostwriting program and have the gall to name it after a cartoon ghost demonstrates their juvenile attitude and careless disregard for patients.'
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>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 programme, 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 GlaxoSmith- Kline.
The firm alleges the company downplayed several risks connected with its drug, including increased suicidal behaviour and birth defects.
A spokeswoman for London-based Glaxo said the published articles noted any assistance to the main authors. 'The programme was not heavily used and was discontinued a number of years ago,' said Mary Anne Rhyne.
According to the memo, which dates from April 2000, the CASPPER programme was designed to 'strengthen the product positioning and overcome competitive issues.'
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>At the time, Paxil was competing with rival antidepressant blockbusters like Eli Lilly's Prozac and Pfizer's Zoloft. Paxil has since lost its patent protection and competes against cheaper generic versions. Sales of Paxil last year totalled US$849 million.
Drug companies frequently hire outside firms to draft a manuscript touting a company's drug, retain a physician to sign off as the author and then find a publisher to unwittingly publish the work.
But the use of ghost-writing by drug companies has come under increased scrutiny by members of Congress, including Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican and a longtime critic of the industry's influence over physicians. Mr Grassley and Senator Herb Kohl, a Democrat, are pushing a bill that would require companies to disclose all payments to physicians over US$100.
According to ghost-writing expert Leemon McHenry, Glaxo's programme was unusually intertwined with its internal sales and marketing department.
'We know that GSK has engaged in ghostwriting for many years,' said Dr McHenry, who works as a research consultant for Baum Hedlund.
'But to create an internal ghost-writing programme and have the gall to name it after a cartoon ghost demonstrates their juvenile attitude and careless disregard for patients.'
Dr McHenry acknowledged that ghostwriting is legal in principle, but said it could contribute to illegal activity if the information is misleading and causes harm.
'If these ghostwritten publications are contributing to the harm of patients because they're making false claims, then that's illegal,' Dr McHenry said.
Articles from the company's programme appeared in five journals between 2000 and 2002, including the American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Drug company salespeople often present medical journal articles to physicians as independent proof that their drugs are safe and effective.
Publication in a medical journal also is a point of prestige for physicians, a fact Glaxo's memo seems to acknowledge: 'Physicians will be eager to participate in CASPPER regardless of their professional stature,' the brief notes. -- AP
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Ghost-writing ploy used to push Glaxo drug
Doctors take credit for articles written by its consultants
<TABLE class=storyLinks border=0 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Email this article</TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Print article </TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(WASHINGTON) British drugmaker GlaxoSmith- Kline used a sophisticated ghostwriting programme 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. <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>[FONT=Geneva, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]<!-- REPLACE EVERYTHING IN CAPITALS WITH YOUR OWN VALUES --><TABLE class=quoteBox border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=144 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=bottom>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>
- Dr Leemon McHenry,
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>ghostwriting expert
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD height=39>
Known as the CASPPER programme, 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 GlaxoSmith- Kline.
The firm alleges the company downplayed several risks connected with its drug, including increased suicidal behaviour and birth defects.
A spokeswoman for London-based Glaxo said the published articles noted any assistance to the main authors. 'The programme was not heavily used and was discontinued a number of years ago,' said Mary Anne Rhyne.
According to the memo, which dates from April 2000, the CASPPER programme was designed to 'strengthen the product positioning and overcome competitive issues.'
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Drug companies frequently hire outside firms to draft a manuscript touting a company's drug, retain a physician to sign off as the author and then find a publisher to unwittingly publish the work.
But the use of ghost-writing by drug companies has come under increased scrutiny by members of Congress, including Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican and a longtime critic of the industry's influence over physicians. Mr Grassley and Senator Herb Kohl, a Democrat, are pushing a bill that would require companies to disclose all payments to physicians over US$100.
According to ghost-writing expert Leemon McHenry, Glaxo's programme was unusually intertwined with its internal sales and marketing department.
'We know that GSK has engaged in ghostwriting for many years,' said Dr McHenry, who works as a research consultant for Baum Hedlund.
'But to create an internal ghost-writing programme and have the gall to name it after a cartoon ghost demonstrates their juvenile attitude and careless disregard for patients.'
Dr McHenry acknowledged that ghostwriting is legal in principle, but said it could contribute to illegal activity if the information is misleading and causes harm.
'If these ghostwritten publications are contributing to the harm of patients because they're making false claims, then that's illegal,' Dr McHenry said.
Articles from the company's programme appeared in five journals between 2000 and 2002, including the American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Drug company salespeople often present medical journal articles to physicians as independent proof that their drugs are safe and effective.
Publication in a medical journal also is a point of prestige for physicians, a fact Glaxo's memo seems to acknowledge: 'Physicians will be eager to participate in CASPPER regardless of their professional stature,' the brief notes. -- AP
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