Diane Stephenson of Groton has three tangible reasons for wanting to know as much as possible about autism.
Stephenson, associate research fellow at Pfizer Inc.'s Groton laboratories who helped start an autism research unit there earlier this year, has two nephews and a niece with the neurological disorder, which is often accompanied by language difficulties, behavioral problems, sleep interruptions, poor eye contact and low social skills.
Her sister's son Thomas, 23, has never spoken a word. And two of her brother's children, Clarise, 5, and Craig, 2, also have been diagnosed with autism.
Autism is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, but there is little doubt the disorder tends to run in families. Stephenson said couples who have one autistic child are 30 times more likely than others to have a second with the same disorder.
"Everyone wants a cure," said Stephenson, who has worked at the Groton labs for six years. "I felt there was something I could do."
So Stephenson, along with Pfizer colleague Howie Mayer, who has two children with autism, worked behind the scenes for a year with the idea of forming a separate research unit focusing on autism. They later added another colleague, Larry Fitzgerald, as the group put the finishing touches on its proposal, contacting key experts outside Pfizer who had a grasp on the latest breakthroughs in autism research.
READ MORE @ HARTFORD COURANT
Showing posts with label Pfizer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pfizer. Show all posts
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Should Michigan repeal immunity law for drug industry? Even after a felony plea, residents can't sue
Recently we learned that the Department of Justice will fine Pfizer $2.3 billion in civil and criminal penalties for its illegal marketing of the drugs Bextra, Zyvox, Geodon and Lyrica. This is not only the largest penalty ever levied against a drug company. It is the largest penalty ever levied against any company in American history.
That is saying something.
Pfizer and its subsidiary entities -- the former Upjohn and Pharmacia -- not only promoted these drugs for uses that were not approved by the FDA. They also marketed the drugs for uses that were explicitly rejected by the FDA, primarily because of safety concerns. To the degree that patients were killed or injured as a result, Pfizer's off-label marketing scheme amounts to negligent homicide.
That is probably why Pfizer was compelled to plead guilty to felony charges, which is also unprecedented in such contexts. In most instances, companies plea-bargain to misdemeanor admissions, fines are levied, and that is the end of it.
READ MORE @ DETROT FREE PRESS
That is saying something.
Pfizer and its subsidiary entities -- the former Upjohn and Pharmacia -- not only promoted these drugs for uses that were not approved by the FDA. They also marketed the drugs for uses that were explicitly rejected by the FDA, primarily because of safety concerns. To the degree that patients were killed or injured as a result, Pfizer's off-label marketing scheme amounts to negligent homicide.
That is probably why Pfizer was compelled to plead guilty to felony charges, which is also unprecedented in such contexts. In most instances, companies plea-bargain to misdemeanor admissions, fines are levied, and that is the end of it.
READ MORE @ DETROT FREE PRESS
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Oops, They Did It Again - What Integrity Means to Pfizer
The satire was biting:
"Thanks for making time to see me today," posted a rep on cafepharma about a fictitious sales meeting with a psychiatrist. "Now, I know that you used Neurontin in the past for every condition under the sun. Pfizer knows very well that you guys were and still continue to be the largest writers of off-label Lyrica and so, in the spirit of Bextra [withdrawn in 2004] will you please write Lyrica as much as possible? Remember Dr, this is Pfizer. The company that never met an off-label sale that it wouldn't cover-up."
Don't forget, writes the next poster on the pharma site, the psychiatrist answers, "Great! and I also heard that it is about to be approved on state Medicaid and I can write it for anything. Is this true?" to which the rep assents in defiance of, "that nice little 2004 CIA agreement."
Pfizer's nice little 2004 "CIA" or Corporate Integrity Agreement in which a company promises to sin no more to which the poster refers was for fraudulent marketing of seizure drug Neurontin. It was preceded by a CIA for fraud related to Pfizer's cholesterol drug, Lipitor, in 2002.
And this month it's followed by a CIA for mis-marketing pain drug Bextra, antipsychotic Geodon, seizure drug Lyrica and antibiotic Zyvox.
Pfizer's $2.3 billion health care fraud settlement with the government announced this month by the US Department of Justice adds some firsts to the world's biggest pharmaceutical company.
It is the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice "to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products,"--and the largest criminal fine ever imposed in the United States. It covers Pfizer's kickbacks to health care providers and false claims submitted to government health care programs, also known as our tax dollars, in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Forty-three states will share in the "give backs."
But it is not exhaustive.
READ MORE @ COUNTERPUNCH
"Thanks for making time to see me today," posted a rep on cafepharma about a fictitious sales meeting with a psychiatrist. "Now, I know that you used Neurontin in the past for every condition under the sun. Pfizer knows very well that you guys were and still continue to be the largest writers of off-label Lyrica and so, in the spirit of Bextra [withdrawn in 2004] will you please write Lyrica as much as possible? Remember Dr, this is Pfizer. The company that never met an off-label sale that it wouldn't cover-up."
Don't forget, writes the next poster on the pharma site, the psychiatrist answers, "Great! and I also heard that it is about to be approved on state Medicaid and I can write it for anything. Is this true?" to which the rep assents in defiance of, "that nice little 2004 CIA agreement."
Pfizer's nice little 2004 "CIA" or Corporate Integrity Agreement in which a company promises to sin no more to which the poster refers was for fraudulent marketing of seizure drug Neurontin. It was preceded by a CIA for fraud related to Pfizer's cholesterol drug, Lipitor, in 2002.
And this month it's followed by a CIA for mis-marketing pain drug Bextra, antipsychotic Geodon, seizure drug Lyrica and antibiotic Zyvox.
Pfizer's $2.3 billion health care fraud settlement with the government announced this month by the US Department of Justice adds some firsts to the world's biggest pharmaceutical company.
It is the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice "to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products,"--and the largest criminal fine ever imposed in the United States. It covers Pfizer's kickbacks to health care providers and false claims submitted to government health care programs, also known as our tax dollars, in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Forty-three states will share in the "give backs."
But it is not exhaustive.
READ MORE @ COUNTERPUNCH
Monday, September 21, 2009
Dueling Intimidation Allegations Filed in Neurontin Litigation
The continuing litigation about whether Pfizer’s anti-seizure medication Neurontin is linked to suicidal behavior in some patients has been marred by allegations filed by attorneys on both sides accusing the other of using intimidation and strong-arm tactics.
Neurontin, known chemically as gabapentin, is an anti-epileptic medication (also called an anticonvulsant) taken by patients to reduce or eliminate seizures in adults and children as young as 12. The drug has been associated with serious side effects, most notably suicide.
Pfizer
Attorneys representing victims of Neurontin recently accused Pfizer’s counsel of trying to intimidate a potential key witness in the case. Pfizer’s attorneys then returned fire with a similar complaint against David Egilman, an expert witness for the plaintiffs.
READ MORE AT ATTORNEYATLAW.COM
Neurontin, known chemically as gabapentin, is an anti-epileptic medication (also called an anticonvulsant) taken by patients to reduce or eliminate seizures in adults and children as young as 12. The drug has been associated with serious side effects, most notably suicide.
Pfizer
Attorneys representing victims of Neurontin recently accused Pfizer’s counsel of trying to intimidate a potential key witness in the case. Pfizer’s attorneys then returned fire with a similar complaint against David Egilman, an expert witness for the plaintiffs.
READ MORE AT ATTORNEYATLAW.COM
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Pfizer Pays $2.3 Billion to Settle Marketing Case
The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion to settle civil and criminal allegations that it had illegally marketed its painkiller Bextra, which has been withdrawn.
It was the largest health care fraud settlement and the largest criminal fine of any kind ever.
Although the investigation began and largely ended during the Bush administration, top Obama administration officials held a news conference on Wednesday to celebrate the settlement, thank each other for resolving it and promise more crackdowns on health fraud.
“It’s another step in the administration’s ongoing effort to prosecute any individual or organization that tries to rip off health care consumers and the federal government,” said Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of health and human services.
Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have accused the Obama administration of failing to crack down adequately on health care fraud, arguing that huge savings in government health programs could be found with better enforcement. The settlement had been expected. Pfizer, which is acquiring a rival, Wyeth, reported in January that it had taken a $2.3 billion charge to resolve claims involving Bextra and other drugs. It was Pfizer’s fourth settlement over illegal marketing activities since 2002.
READ MORE @ NY TIMES
It was the largest health care fraud settlement and the largest criminal fine of any kind ever.
Although the investigation began and largely ended during the Bush administration, top Obama administration officials held a news conference on Wednesday to celebrate the settlement, thank each other for resolving it and promise more crackdowns on health fraud.
“It’s another step in the administration’s ongoing effort to prosecute any individual or organization that tries to rip off health care consumers and the federal government,” said Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of health and human services.
Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have accused the Obama administration of failing to crack down adequately on health care fraud, arguing that huge savings in government health programs could be found with better enforcement. The settlement had been expected. Pfizer, which is acquiring a rival, Wyeth, reported in January that it had taken a $2.3 billion charge to resolve claims involving Bextra and other drugs. It was Pfizer’s fourth settlement over illegal marketing activities since 2002.
READ MORE @ NY TIMES
Monday, February 9, 2009
AP IMPACT: Drugmakers' push boosts 'murky' ailment
Two drugmakers spent hundreds of millions of dollars last year to raise awareness of a murky illness, helping boost sales of pills recently approved as treatments and drowning out unresolved questions — including whether it's a real disease at all.
Key components of the industry-funded buzz over the pain-and-fatigue ailment fibromyalgia are grants — more than $6 million donated by drugmakers Eli Lilly and Pfizer in the first three quarters of 2008 — to nonprofit groups for medical conferences and educational campaigns, an Associated Press analysis found.
That's more than they gave for more accepted ailments such as diabetes and Alzheimer's. Among grants tied to specific diseases, fibromyalgia ranked third for each company, behind only cancer and AIDS for Pfizer and cancer and depression for Lilly.
Fibromyalgia draws skepticism for several reasons. The cause is unknown. There are no tests to confirm a diagnosis. Many patients also fit the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome and other pain ailments.
READ MORE @ ASSOCIATED PRESS
Key components of the industry-funded buzz over the pain-and-fatigue ailment fibromyalgia are grants — more than $6 million donated by drugmakers Eli Lilly and Pfizer in the first three quarters of 2008 — to nonprofit groups for medical conferences and educational campaigns, an Associated Press analysis found.
That's more than they gave for more accepted ailments such as diabetes and Alzheimer's. Among grants tied to specific diseases, fibromyalgia ranked third for each company, behind only cancer and AIDS for Pfizer and cancer and depression for Lilly.
Fibromyalgia draws skepticism for several reasons. The cause is unknown. There are no tests to confirm a diagnosis. Many patients also fit the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome and other pain ailments.
READ MORE @ ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Pfizer said to be in talks to buy Wyeth
Pfizer's discussions to acquire Wyeth, the drug company that makes the antidepressant Effexor, have advanced, bringing the two pharmaceuticals giants closer to a potential merger, people briefed on the matter said Friday.
While no agreement had been reached, it was possible that a deal for Pfizer to buy Wyeth could be announced within days, said these people. Such a deal could be worth $60 billion or more, analysts say.
The merger would be popular among investors and analysts who have been pushing Pfizer to make a bold move. The drug maker has been struggling with flat revenue, diminishing returns on research and looming generic competition to Lipitor, the world's top-selling drug.
READ MORE @ INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
While no agreement had been reached, it was possible that a deal for Pfizer to buy Wyeth could be announced within days, said these people. Such a deal could be worth $60 billion or more, analysts say.
The merger would be popular among investors and analysts who have been pushing Pfizer to make a bold move. The drug maker has been struggling with flat revenue, diminishing returns on research and looming generic competition to Lipitor, the world's top-selling drug.
READ MORE @ INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
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