Pharma 101 - Pharmaceutical Fraud

Archive for January, 2007

Congress now has the power to shake up the FDA

With the new Democratic-controlled Congress, how the FDA accomplishes enforcement will likely change, which may in turn effect the level of resources devoted to the investigation of qui tam complaint allegations. In June 2006, a government report was issued entitled “Prescription for Harm: The Decline in FDA Enforcement Activity”, as a result of the House Committee on Government Reform having commissioned an investigation to evaluate the FDA enforcement activities related to the pharmaceutical industry under the Bush administration. The Report did not present a well-oiled enforcement machine.

To see the full report, click here.

To read more about Pharmaceutical Fraud, click here.

Pharma Group Says “No” To Expensive Gifts to Doctors Which Could Influence Their Drug Choices

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), a worldwide trade group said that under their revised ethics code that as of January 1, 2007, they were no longer permitted to provide expensive gifts to doctors. This change to the ethics code was the first in the past 10 years. Members of this trade group are no longer permitted to give physicians money or expensive gifts such as stays in luxury hotels or trips to golf resorts that might influence their prescription drug selections. IFPMA members include Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Merck and Novartis. Here’s to more reform!

For more information click here.