Doctor accuses drugs giant (P&G) of 'unethical' secrecy (The Observer)

(This is really bad, if true, P&G should apologize and come clean)

Doctor accuses drugs giant of 'unethical' secrecy

Jo Revill, health editor
Sunday December 4, 2005
The Observer

Britain's leading medicines watchdog is to investigate claims made by a senior doctor of 'unethical behaviour' by a major pharmaceutical company over a study of a disease that affects millions of women.

A series of emails and taped telephone conversations passed to The Observer reveal that a highly respected academic in the field of osteoporosis has questioned Procter and Gamble's decision to publish drug research in his name even though he had not been given full access to the data it was based on. The report was written by a 'ghost writer' paid for by P&G before being given to the academic to agree.

The claims made by Dr Aubrey Blumsohn, senior lecturer and bone metabolism specialist at Sheffield University, are to be looked at by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority. The issue will also be debated by MPs this week when the Commons meets to discuss whether the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry should be strengthened.

Blumsohn has told The Observer that he became highly concerned about the analysis of data collected as part of a study he was conducting on drugs manufactured by Procter and Gamble. The research was into the effect the osteoporosis drug Actonel had on women at risk of fractures.

<http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1657302,00.html?gusrc=rss>
(more at link above)

and, in stark contrast to anything that would ever happen in the US:

"A Commons debate will be held on Thursday on the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry. The Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Burstow, who sits on the health select committee, said: 'It is essential that universities feel confident that they can defend their academics and that they get the access to data which they need before they can give it their stamp of approval."

"...debate will be held on Thursday on the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry..." :think:

Who was it who called ideas like this "quaint" a few years back?

:kick: