Pharmaceutical Whistleblowers

Settlement Produces Money But No Apologies in Florida

2010-01-06T13:08:00.005-05:00

Boehringer Ingelheim Corp., generic-drug manufacturer, is paying $8.5 million to settle fraud claims, yet the company still admits to no wrong-doing.The claims are that the company inflated the price of generic drugs but charged the pharmacies less. In turn the pharmacies had a larger profit margin from Medicaid reimbursements. The larger gap between reported cost and actual cost brought more

Drug Rep Blowing a Whistle

2010-01-06T12:45:00.005-05:00

Sarah Thomas is a pharmaceutical sales rep. She is also a football official.Not exactly the whistleblowing we are interested in , but I could not pass up the "humor?"If you are interested in full artcile.

Whistleblower, John Kopchinski, Recognized as 2009's Most Influential Person In Business Ethics

2010-01-06T12:31:00.003-05:00

John Kopchinski lost his job for "not being a team player" when he exposed Pfizer's illegal marketing and sales of Bextra. The painkiller was being marketed at potentially lethal dosages and uses.Former sales member turned hero, Kopchinski played a vital role in the record $2.3 million settlement. Ethisphere named him the "Most Influential Person In Business Ethics in 2009."A very well deserved

Merck Ignored the Risk of Heart Attack with Vioxx for Four Years

2009-12-08T15:59:00.003-05:00

For four years Merck turned a deaf ear to the research linking Vioxx to increased risk of heart attack, a large 35 percent increase in cardiovascular event or death. In 2002 Dr. David Graham testified that there was evidence that 88,000 to 139,000 people had suffered heart attacks as a side-effect of taking Vioxx. Thirty to 40 percent of those people died. That's possibly 55,000 people that died

KY Attorney General, Jack Conway, Is On Our Side!

2009-12-02T21:20:00.002-05:00

That sounds like a cheesy slogan, but since he took office in January 2008, Jack Conway has made some headway at making Big Pharma pay. He is running for US Senate in 2010. Here is hoping we see more of him soon! Below are links mentioning what he has done for his state's Medicaid program and his website. If you can see through the political mumbo-jumbo, it really seems as if he is one of the

Chicago Psychiatrist Claims Anti-Psychotic Drug Helps With Weight-Loss Despite The Obvious With His and Others' Patients

2009-11-18T12:09:00.009-05:00

For ten years AstraZeneca LEGALLY compensated Dr. Michael Reinstein, a Chicago psychiatrist, to promote Seroquel and claim that he has research that suggests it helps lose weight in addition to its anti-psychotic "benefits." There is real research that proves not only does the drug not promote weight-loss but causes weight gain and can lead to diabetes.Reinstein became so valuable to AstraZeneca

Prof Mohammed Hani; The Real Deal

2009-11-12T13:32:00.004-05:00

Webster's defines hero as "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities."Why is it that despite the undeniable evidence that Prof Mohammed Hani is a real-live hero, there are still some within the Medical and Pharmaceutical worlds that shun him and resent his dedication to his patients and truth?This man used his scientific training and compassion for others to uncover the reason his

Omnicare and Ivax Admit No Wrong-Doing BUT Settle For $112 Million To "Avoid Expensive Litigation"

2009-11-12T13:03:00.004-05:00

Omnicare and Ivax have decided to settle for $112 million to "avoid expensive litigation" for alleged drug kickbacks but claim they've done nothing wrong? Omnicare will be paying $98 million and Ivax $14 million plus interest.I can only begin to imagine how much they are covering up if they thought $112 million would be the cheaper way out. These companies have made so much money through fraud

Lou Gehrig's vs HPV

2009-10-29T22:35:00.002-04:00

Aside from the other 40-something deaths possibly being linked to Gardasil, the vaccination is now the prime suspect in the deaths of two young girls, ages 17 and 20, with Lou Gehrig's Disease. Both girls started showing symptoms within months of starting the vaccination. Sadly 70% of HPV infections clear on their own within one year and 90% within two years. Regular screenings by a doctor can

Why Would Dr. Harper Deny HPV Vaccines Statements?

2009-10-29T22:24:00.004-04:00

Dr. Diane Harper is now saying she did not make statements about Cervavix or Gardasil being dangerous and deadly. She has been quoted by several news sources speaking out about some of the possible side effects and about the question of its actual effectiveness. Now that she is denying this I am wondering why? Who got to Dr. Harper?

Drug Marketed at Girls as Young as 9 Has Never Been Tested On Any Under Age 15

2009-10-26T21:47:00.004-04:00

Dr. Diane Harper, lead researcher for Gardasil and Cervarvix, has admitted FOR THE SECOND TIME that these vaccinations have not been tested on young girls and safety could be an issue. In 2007 she was quoted as saying giving the vaccine to girls under 11 is "a great big public health experiment." Early October she addressed the 4th International Public Conference on Vaccination and said that

NAMI got $23 from Drug Companies

2009-10-22T20:37:00.000-04:00

Who makes the most donations to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness? Guess again, it’s DRUG COMPANIES! It’s no secret that NAMI lobbies big and bad with drug makers to push legislation that benefits BigPharma. Well, maybe they’re about to at least get their hands slapped by Iowa’s Senator Chuck Grassley. He’s written some letters, and poked around, and now the numbers are out. NAMI got

20,000 Expected to Lose Job As Result of Pfizer Wyeth Merger

2009-10-18T21:22:00.003-04:00

These drug companies expect their employees to be loyal and tight lipped about any unethical, unmoral practices that happen everyday but then make "business moves" that will result in 20,000 of those employees to be jobless. Now that Pfizer and Wyeth have completed their merger it's time to sit back and see how many of those employees will be kicked to the curb.It took nine months from the time

$1.3 Billion Criminal Fine for Pfizer and There's Still Enough Money To Buy Wyeth

2009-10-18T20:42:00.006-04:00

Pfizer Inc. plead guilty to felony charges “for misbranding Bextra with the intent to defraud or mislead.” The terms of the settlement resulted in the largest criminal fine EVER imposed in the U.S., yet I wonder how much of a dent it actually put in their pocketbook if they can still afford to "join"/buy out Wyeth.Pfizer & Wyeth Are Now One. Working Together for a Healthier World........how much

Shouldn’t Paul Kirk’s Ties to Pharmaceutical Companies Raise Even More Concern Than His Health-Insurance Connections?

2009-10-18T19:23:00.006-04:00

After reading the cry for help Dr. Janet Parker, D.V.M. sent in November 2008 to the United Nations on behalf of “Medical Whistleblowers,” it seems that appointing someone else on the Pharmaceutical companies’ side to the Senate would be a step in the wrong direction.Paul G. Kirk, Jr. is the likely pick of Gov. Patrick and is being endorsed by the Kennedys even though

Fox Guards the Henhouse with BigPharma Testing Itself

2009-10-17T18:37:00.000-04:00

We’d love to hear what others think about BigPharma sponsoring studies about their own pharmaceuticals and thinking that this is going to generate quality information. The drug companies get slapped on the wrists when they get caught with their ethics in the grinder, but then it is forgotten by the general public. Here’s a story of interest from the “Hooked: Ethics, Medicine and Pharma” blog,

They Thought They'd Get Away With It...But They Didn't

2009-10-11T22:22:00.004-04:00

Biovail Pharmaceuticals, LLC, will pay over $22 million in a criminel fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy and kickback charges. Biovaile, a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company and its employees were charged with operating a program in which Biovaile paid or caused to be paid up to $1,000 to thousands of physicians and others in order to induce them to prescribe or recommend the drug

A Psychiatrist Takes On A Drug Company. Good Read!

2009-10-09T19:59:00.000-04:00

The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg Doug Bremner This is the story of a psychiatrist who takes on a multibillion dollar drug company, gets chewed up and spit out, but survives. Even conquers. A psychiatrist doing research on a drug for the treatment of acne speaks out about the dangers of the drug which can cause depression and suicide. The drug company that makes the drug, from which they

Product recall .... prenatal vitamins

2009-02-12T16:43:00.001-05:00

Product Recall!Who would think that prescription prenatal vitamins and iron supplements could pose a risk! Ethex Corporation is removing over 60 generic drugs from the shelves for oversized tablets, wrong dosages, and other defects that can pose a risk to mom and baby. For more info, check out the latest press release athttp://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/ethex02_09.htm

Xigris safety review..... Bleeding and sepsis

2009-02-12T16:43:00.000-05:00

Do you or someone you know have severe sepsis? Have you been treated with Xigris. There have been serious side effects and this medication is undergoing an ongoing safety review. Serious bleeding in 35%% of patients shows the risk of this medication.http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/early_comm/drotrecogin_alfa.html

Danger of Numbing Ingredients

2009-02-05T15:00:00.001-05:00

If you are getting a mammogram, laser hair removal or are suffering from chronic pain and use topical anesthetics, think again. These have been used to block pain in the skin for medical tests or for specific conditions have caused two women to die.These anesthetics often pass into the blood stream. More info from the FDA is available athttp://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/podcast/

test 7jan

2009-01-07T23:41:00.000-05:00

testing on jan 7

Mike Adams on why Merck execs should be arrested

2008-04-18T21:21:00.001-04:00

Do not allow Merck to conduct further business in this countryI believe that law enforcement authorities in America have both the right and the responsibility to arrest top Merck executives, seize Merck's inventory, and deny Merck the right to conduct any further business in this nation by cancelling its corporate charter. I believe Merck is engaged in serious crimes against the People and that

GlaxoSmithKline intimidation of Bob Fiddaman

2008-04-04T11:34:00.001-04:00

Bloggers discussing the intimidation of a patient, Bob Fiddaman, by GlaxoSmithKline Does GSK Love Bad Publicity? (Clin Psych Blog)Video sets GlaxoSmithKline Hounds to Intimidate British Blogger (AHRP Blog)This U.S.A. blog supports Bob Fiddaman (Soulful Sepulcher)Glaxo Smith Kline (Bipolar Blast)It's Groundhog Day for bullying by GlaxoSmithKline over Seroxat (Scientific Misconduct Blog)GSK Lawyers

Two Years Later the Truth Comes Out

2008-01-18T20:43:00.000-05:00

1/18/2008The million or so Americans who've been prescribed Zetia to lower their cholesterol have been duped by the pharmaceutical companies.Merck and Schering-Plough funded an "independent study" and dragged the trial on for two years, testing 720 patients."This wraps it up," said Dr. Steven E. Nissen, chairman of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. "That's all there is. There just isn't any

Merck and Schering-Plough concealed data in clinical trials

2008-01-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

Congressmen John Dingell (D-MI) and Bart Stupak (D-MI) say that Merck and Schering-Plough concealed or manipulated clinical trial data for Vytorin. Trial results showed that Vytorin was no more effective than the cheap, generic versions.“Today’s announcement that the ENHANCE study failed to find any positive benefit from the addition of Zetia to a common, inexpensive, generic therapy raises

Good Satire Video on YouTube

2008-01-10T20:12:00.000-05:00

Vytorin Scientific Fraud and Parody Cholesterol Ad on YouTube, by "The Health Ranger"Click HERE to see the video!

World Net Daily "Killing Consumers for the Almighty Dollar"

2008-01-10T13:31:00.000-05:00

See the article by Joel HeschWorld Net DailyCheck out this excellent commentary on the fraud perpetrated by Purdue Frederick Company Inc, the makers of Oxycontin. Hesch writes about how Purdue Frederick’s sales team lied to increase sales, telling doctors the drug was safe and effective, instead of addictive. The company’s researchers used misleading graphs to publish bogus articles in medical

What do we know about Vytorin?

2007-12-23T23:05:00.000-05:00

It looks like Merck and Schering-Plough failed to publish several nasty studies that raise questions about the safety of their new cholesterol drug, Vytorin. Zetia, one component of Vytorin, causes liver damage, according to a New York Times report.The drug makers are already under scrutiny for delays in publicizing the results of an important trial called Enhance of Vytorin, a combination of the

New: FDA Watch

2007-12-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

We've added feature to our website at www.PharmaceuticalWhistlblowers.com that's worth watching. We'll be adding the status of FDA Warning Letters sent to pharmaceutical companies...and there's plenty to keep up on! We'll also be adding The Forum soon, a confidential, anonymous discussion area. Keep watching!

FDA Tells GSK to stop sending out misleading info to health professionals

2007-11-30T19:59:00.000-05:00

Read the FDA WARNING LETTER TO GSK.According to the FDA, GlaxoSmithKline has sent out letters promoting Tykerb, which "...omit and minimize the most serious risk information" and "...selectively present efficacy information for Tykerb, thereby overstating the efficacy of the drug. Most important, the letters minimize the important risk of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction," which is a

This is Your Brain on Drug Industry Money

2007-11-27T20:24:00.000-05:00

Read the whole story here. Dr. Carlat tells all, or at least most.D'you think the devil made him do it? Or the money?Dr. Daniel Carlat made $30,000 spinning Wyeth's Effexor XR to other doctors. Wyeth gave him slides, info, and paid for him to go to a speaker's seminar. Carlat made $500 for every "Lunch and Learn" talk he gave around town...$750 if he had to drive an hour to do it. Wyeth flew him

FDA Probing Safety of Advair and Serevent for Children

2007-11-27T11:13:00.000-05:00

Read more HERE.There seem to be an alarming number of opportunities for GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical whistleblowers. Today the concern is all about potential fatal side effects of Advair and Serevent in children who take the drugs to treat asthma.Five deaths, and four cases of "adverse events" were reported in children under 16 since March 2006, when GSK was granted pediatric exclusivity. Just

Whistleblower Seeks Her Fair Share

2007-11-27T11:06:00.000-05:00

Read more HERE.CANTON – Antoinette Menapace helped the federal government uncover millions of dollars in health-care fraud.She isn’t a doctor, a lawyer or a cop. She’s a grandmother and former medical coder who didn’t think the numbers added up.Almost two years ago, she filed a lawsuit against her former employer, Dr. Mohammed Aiti, claiming he and other doctors at Premier Medical Group were

Psychchiatric Warnings on Flu Drugs Tamiflu and Relenza?

2007-11-25T18:57:00.001-05:00

An FDA panel is reviewing recommendations that psychiatric warnings be added to the labels of two flu drugs, Roche's Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza.The label warnings on Tamiflu would include "in some cases, these behaviors resulted in serious injuries, including death, in adult and pediatric patients." The Relenxa box label would be updated to include: "reports of hallucinations, delirium

Pharmaceutical Industry's "free speech" trumps public safety.

2007-11-24T11:42:00.000-05:00

We know that street drug pushers are dangerous to society...but we need to look out for the the Professional Drug Dealers as well--Pharmaceutical Companies that peddle poison to patients and get away with it.Don't look at the Senate or the House to keep you safe, they're getting lobbied by the pharmaceutical corporation big time--and just passed an FDA reauthorization bill that ignores public

FDA and BigPharma: Too Close for Comfort?

2007-11-23T17:43:00.000-05:00

According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the US drug safety system is "the best in the world." Of course, as one of the most powerful lobbies around, they're paid well to say that.The fen-phen diet-drug fiasco was ten years ago--thousands of cases of severe heart and lung damage and several deaths after it was approved by the FDA and widely prescribed, it was

Arkansas files suit against J&J and two subsidiaries

2007-11-21T19:17:00.000-05:00

Risperdal is being prescribed to treat illnesses it isn't approved for. This one isn't a Whistleblower suit, but it could have been.Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel filed suit Tuesday against health-care product manufacturer Johnson & Johnson Inc. and two of its subsidiaries, accusing the drug makers of illegally promoting a popular antipsychotic medication.The lawsuit, filed in Pulaski

On the side of Pharmaceutical Whistleblowers

2007-11-21T00:37:00.000-05:00

Senator Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee, loudly and clearly told the pharmaceutical industry that he would not tolerate their attacks on medical researchers any longer. Grassley told scientists and researchers to contact his office directly if a pharmaceutical company makes any threats or attacks on their reputation when they raise an alarm about

NYT tells Cynthia Fitzgerald's Whistleblower Story

2007-11-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

Cynthia Fitzgerald's dream job with Novation (an Irving, TX company that negotiates medical supply contracts for its 7,000 member hospitals) turned into a nightmare.In 1998, a few months into the job, she became aware of improper sales practices and erroneous accounting that were draining millions of dollars out of public programs like Medicare through overcharges or unauthorized uses. She

Kudos to a Couple of Pharmaceutical Whistleblowers!

2007-11-15T10:51:00.000-05:00

Two private citizens, employees of Physiotherapy Associates, Inc., will receive almost $3 million dollars for blowing the whistle on Physiotherapy and Kalamazoo, Mich. based Stryker Corporation. (Physiotherapy is the former outpatient therapy division of Stryker.)Stryker and Physiotherapy will pay the United States a $16.6 million settlement to resolve allegations that Memphis based Physiotherapy

I'll Take Zits, and a Loud Blow with a Big Whistle

2007-11-13T19:23:00.000-05:00

There's nothing remotely funny about the findings of Dr. Sarah Bailey at the University of Bath regarding Roche pharmaceutical's acne medication Roaccutane, but "I'll take zits" does come to mind.Dr. Bailey's research shows how Roaccutane, (Accutane in the US) an acne drug, which is similar structurally to vitamin A, could disrupt seotonin levels in the brain leading to feelings of severe despair

UCLA blows the whistle on pharmaceutical ads in medical

2007-11-12T12:03:00.000-05:00

Check out the Feb. 15 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal for a UCLA study reviewing pharmaceutical advertising validity and funding. They found that almost ONE THIRD of the drug ads contained NO references for the medical claims they made. Researchers also examined the funding sources of the research cited in the ads and concluded that most of the "original research" used to

Whistleblowers awarded $177 million in 2007. Pharmaceutical Whistleblowers blew the hardest and strongest!

2007-11-09T11:02:00.000-05:00

Of the $2 billion recovered by the Justice Department for fraud in 2007, $1.45 billion was associated with suits initiated by whistleblowers under the False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions.These whistleblower provisions authorize individuals, known as "relators" to file suit on behalf of the United States against those who have falsely or fraudulently claimed federal funds. Such cases run the

Smoke, Mirrors and Advertising

2007-11-08T10:31:00.000-05:00

Pharmaceutical companies spend huge amounts of money on advertising. "Scent" is the latest sense it looks like they'll use--KFC is already pumping That Chicken Smell into workplaces and seeing the lines at the counter increase around lunchtime.The Pharmaceutical executives won't be far behind. They have this advertising thing figured out. According to the journal Pharmaceutical Executive, one of

Private Sector Whistleblower Protection Streamlining Act of 2007

2007-11-07T19:08:00.000-05:00

On Nov. 1, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and 13 co-sponsors introduced H.R. 4047, the "Private Sector Whistleblower Protection Streamlining Act of 2007".“This is a ‘Good Housekeeping,’ good government measure more than 30 years overdue,” said GAP Legal Director Tom Devine. “Whistleblowers are the life blood for the government to enforce consumer protection laws. But the legal system is hopelessly

2007 a "good year" for health fraud whistleblowers

2007-11-05T22:54:00.000-05:00

In fiscal year 2007, (ending Sept. 30) the US Justice Department received $2 billion in fraud settlements, with most of the recoveries coming form whistleblower lawsuits.Individuals who filed whistleblower suits were awarded $177 million in 2007, with most of that coming from health care fraud lawsuits.The Justice Department is cracking down on illegal and unethical pharmaceutical company

2007-11-04T20:04:00.000-05:00

Medifraud: Available at a Pharmacy Near YouBy Art Levine, The American ProspectPosted on November 2, 2007, Printed on November 4, 2007http://www.alternet.org/story/66653/We're hearing those phrases again," declared Law and Order district attorney, former Republican senator, and presidential candidate Fred Thompson in a July 26 ABC podcast. "National health care, universal health care, socialized

2007-11-04T20:03:00.000-05:00

A recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 94 percent of physicians had some type of explicit relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, a government report done in Vermont found that in 2006 drug companies gave the average psychiatrist with high drug-company earnings a bit more than $45,000 in assorted honoraria and travel expenses. The report also found that