Drugs

Academics Promote Expensive Drugs for Companies

A lengthy ProPublica report shows how major drug companies have quietly used academic researchers in public relations campaigns to support the high cost of some drugs. Many of the academics are leading economists and healthcare experts at major universities who also work for Precision Health Economics, it says.

The report says that Precision consults for three leading makers of new hepatitis C treatments—Gilead, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and AbbVie. “When AbbVie funded a special issue of the American Journal of Managed Care on hepatitis C research,” the report explains, “current or former associates of Precision Health Economics wrote half of the issue. A Stanford professor who had previously consulted for the firm served as guest editor-in-chief.” And at a 5/2016 congressional briefing on hepatitis C, three of the four panelists were current or former Precision Health Economics consultants.

ProPublica says that with a battle looming between the industry and President Donald Trump over drug prices, “the prestige and credibility of the distinguished academics who moonlight for Precision Health Economics could play a crucial role in the industry’s multipronged push to sway public and congressional opinion.” It adds that the professors sometimes fail to disclose the potential conflict between their scholarly and commercial roles.

A former “academic affiliate” listed on the Precision Web site is New York University School of Medicine clinical assistant professor Scott Gottlieb, who has been reported to be under consideration to be named by President Trump as FDA commissioner. The report also notes that University of Chicago economist Tomas Phillipson, a Precision co-founder, served briefly as a senior healthcare advisor for the Trump transition team, and thus the company may be well positioned to influence the administration.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

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FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

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FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome