Comments on: Are Drug Companies Using Medical Staff to Circumvent Off-Label Promo Rules? http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/7448 Let The Truth Be Told Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:31:01 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tim http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/7448/comment-page-1#comment-7336 Tim Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:31:54 +0000 http://www.newsinferno.com/?p=7448#comment-7336 I'm glad that this article points out the blurring between science and marketing, because that's exactly what's happened. Drug companies are prohibited from marketing their drugs for off-label uses. Unfortunately they routinely ignore this constraint, and this is just another in a long line of examples. I’m glad that this article points out the blurring between science and marketing, because that’s exactly what’s happened. Drug companies are prohibited from marketing their drugs for off-label uses. Unfortunately they routinely ignore this constraint, and this is just another in a long line of examples.

]]> By: Dan http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/7448/comment-page-1#comment-7328 Dan Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:36:31 +0000 http://www.newsinferno.com/?p=7448#comment-7328 MSLs have existed within big pharma corporations for over 40 years- starting with the Upjohn pharmaceutical company in 1967. Their vocation is suppose to be that of a health consultant, and describe objectively and scientifically the elements of the pharmaceuticals manufactured with their employer. This role that the MSL had no longer exists, as the MSL is now viewed as an elite sales element of a pharmaceutical company. MSLs have been known to go to another geographic location, and give a biased presentation on a product their company promotes- coming off as a doctor or key opinion leader. Historically, MSLs have been a component of the medical or scientific affairs of a drug company. And they still are on paper. Yet, MSLs are coerced presently to bow to the will of the sales and marketing departments of their employers. David Franklin, a Harvard PhD, got hired as a MSL with Warner Lambert in 1996. He felt uncomfortable about what he witnessed, and was being coerced to do as a MSL by his employer. He filed a qui tam false claims act suit in Boston that year, and a settlement agreement was reached with Warner Lambert's new owner, Pfizer, in the year 2004. Dan Abshear MSLs have existed within big pharma corporations for over 40 years- starting with the Upjohn pharmaceutical company in 1967.

Their vocation is suppose to be that of a health consultant, and describe objectively and scientifically the elements of the pharmaceuticals manufactured with their employer.

This role that the MSL had no longer exists, as the MSL is now viewed as an elite sales element of a pharmaceutical company.

MSLs have been known to go to another geographic location, and give a biased presentation on a product their company promotes- coming off as a doctor or key opinion leader.

Historically, MSLs have been a component of the medical or scientific affairs of a drug company. And they still are on paper. Yet, MSLs are coerced presently to bow to the will of the sales and marketing departments of their employers.

David Franklin, a Harvard PhD, got hired as a MSL with Warner Lambert in 1996.

He felt uncomfortable about what he witnessed, and was being coerced to do as a MSL by his employer. He filed a qui tam false claims act suit in Boston that year, and a settlement agreement was reached with Warner Lambert’s new owner, Pfizer, in the year 2004.

Dan Abshear

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