Comments on: Former Pfizer District Sales Manager Indicted

By: Oops

Oops — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:40:32 +0000

Actually, I know Tom Farina. Tom was originally a Institutional Healthcare Representative (IHR) @ Pfizer, responsible for calling on teaching hospitals in Brooklyn, NY. He worked with the Orthopedics departments at several of his hospitals to establish a clinical pathway for the use of Bextra. He, of course, was highly commended by senior managers @ Pfizer, including his Regional Manager, Mary Holloway, and the VP of Sales for the Powers Division, I can’t remember his name. Of course, Tom’s sales were great, and everyone in the region was encouraged to follow Tom’s lead. I for one thought it was a little strange to work with orthopedic surgeons to establish a drug to treat pain that was not approved for pain. Bextra was approved for the treatment of OA/RA & primary dysmenorrhea. My lack of teamwork was noted. Fortunately, I left Pfizer (of my own volition) well before 2004. So why did I write this: to answer “WBP is a fool.” Unfortunately, “WBP is a fool”, you are simply mistaken.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:05:32 +0000

WBP wrote and you responded, with a name that is coincientally very similar. I believe that medical reps are generally well-meaning. WBP didn’t. What do you do?

By: WBP is a Fool

WBP is a Fool — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:20:14 +0000

At the time of this alleged incident there were over 13,000 sales representatives working for Pfizer USA. The fact that one out of 13,000 representatives has been indicted should be a clear indication that misleading the medical community is in fact not a common practice within Pfizer or the industry as whole. The fact is that most representatives take their medical and ethical training seriously and work to promote products in a way that will benefit patients as well as the medical professionals responsible for prescribing those products.

By: B. Martin, MD

B. Martin, MD — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:02:23 +0000

I’m going with Justice in Michigan and Bextra. The dosages are too low for celecoxib.

By: The Medical Quack: Former Pfizer District Sales Manager Indicted

The Medical Quack: Former Pfizer District Sales Manager Indicted — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:25:53 +0000

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By: WBP

WBP — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:01:23 +0000

I’m sure that this is not an isolated incident. This type of activity is probably routine conduct for anyone in Big pharma caught “red-handed” with their “pants down.” Given what I’ve observed in the industry, there are many marketing and sales people that are in the same boat. It wouldn’t take much to find them!

By: Ed Silverman

Ed Silverman — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:32:44 +0000

Dear B and Justice,

You are both correct - both drugs were approved for those uses. Since I didn’t know which drug was the subject of the investigation, I chose to leave it unnamed. But your comments prompted me to put them both out there, since Bextra was still available at the time these activities were alleged to have taken place.

Thanks
ed

By: Justice in Michigan

Justice in Michigan — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:22:23 +0000

Based on the dosing, and some other details in the indictment, the drug in question was almost certainly Bextra.

By: B. Martin, MD

B. Martin, MD — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:16:30 +0000

The only Pfizer drug approved for both OA/RA and primary dysmenorrhea is Celebrex (celecoxib).