‘Huge’ results raise hope for cancer breakthrough
In a potential breakthrough in cancer research, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have genetically engineered patients’ T cells — a type of white blood cell — to attack cancer cells in advanced cases of a common type of leukemia. Two of the three patients who received doses of the designer T cells in a […]
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Retractions Of Scientific Studies Are Surging
Over the past decade, the number of medical journals that have issued retractions has climbed precipitously. Since 2001, the overall number of papers that were published in research journals increased 44 percent, but at the same time, the number of papers that were retracted climbed more than 15-fold, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing […]
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Reps Wield iPADs, But Most Docs Not Impressed
The iPAD may be the hot device for sales reps, but most physicians are not so enchanted when the devices are whipped out during presentations. In fact, only 36 percent of 1,755 physicians surveyed who talk to reps with iPads or other tablets find the experience to be more beneficial than speaking with reps who […]
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A Convicted Felon Redefines Drug Development?
File this under ‘nice try, but…’ The FDA has denied a request made by convicted felon Ray Nathan for a hearing in which he hoped to prevent the agency from permanently debarring him from providing services in any capacity to a person that has an approved or pending drug product application. However, he did take […]
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J&J To Settle Criminal Charge Over Risperdal Marketing, While 40 States Plan Lawsuits
As Johnson & Johnson attempts to resolve a raft of litigation and government investigations related to Risperdal marketing, attorney generals from approximately 40 states are deciding whether to pile on as they pursue a coordinated civil investigation into potential consumer fraud violations, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Advertisement: Dangerous Documents: […]
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Merck Loses Ruling In Overtime Pay Lawsuit
In yet another victory for sales reps seeking overtime pay, a federal judge has ruled that the administrative exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act does not apply to Schering-Plough reps. The ruling, though, is not surprising, given that the US Supreme Court recently chose not to hear an appeal of a lower-court finding of […]
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The Feds Subpoena Merck Over Its Marketing
Merck has received a subpoena from the US Department of Justice as part of a criminal investigation into the marketing of various drugs. The feds want info about marketing and selling these drugs – Temodar, which treats brain tumors; the PegIntron hepatitis C treatment; and Intron A, which treats certain cancers – from 2004 through […]
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FDA Approves First-Ever Antivenom for Scorpion Stings
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first time yesterday approved an antivenom specifically for the treatment of Centruroides scorpion stings. “This is an historic event,” Leslie Boyer, MD, lead investigator on the antivenom’s clinical trials, said in a press statement. “This is the first-ever drug approved for this use by the FDA; […]
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Feds Almost Banned Other Forest Executives
In its quest to exclude Forest Laboratories ceo Howard Solomon from doing business with federal healthcare programs, the US Department of Health & Human Services had also considered banning seven other Forest executives, but ultimately decided not to do so as negotiations were held last fall to settle charges of illegal marketing , according to […]
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Feds Will Not Ban Forest CEO From Health Programs
After months of mystery, the US Department of Health & Human Services has decided not to exclude Forest Laboratories ceo Howard Solomon from doing business with federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. The move came four months after the HHS Office of Inspector General shocked the drugmaker with its plan to ban the […]
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