Comments on: Heartbreak Of Psoriasis: Amgen’s Enbrel Tactics http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:35:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Clyde G http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-213336 Clyde G Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:04:22 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-213336 We are starting to see this pattern developing in South Africa. There is an upswing in requests to get bioogicals prescribed for various conditions off label. We are starting to see this pattern developing in South Africa. There is an upswing in requests to get bioogicals prescribed for various conditions off label.

]]> By: Justice in Michigan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-197692 Justice in Michigan Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:55:10 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-197692 I guess nothing should surprise us, but it does.... Predictably, after a urology appointment, I get an email from P-CAP, an "organization" for pts with prostate cancer (which I don't have) funded and managed by a particular company/drug. My urologist, whom I like and trust, says there is no connection he can imagine. There must be a connection he can't imagine, somewhere in the office. I guess nothing should surprise us, but it does….

Predictably, after a urology appointment, I get an email from P-CAP, an “organization” for pts with prostate cancer (which I don’t have) funded and managed by a particular company/drug. My urologist, whom I like and trust, says there is no connection he can imagine.

There must be a connection he can’t imagine, somewhere in the office.

]]> By: Anonymous Patient http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-197427 Anonymous Patient Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:29:24 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-197427 Actually, I know of an incident must worse than this. Involving a well known cancer drug. The patients who were on the special access trial while waiting for approval were actually contacted post approval directly from pharma company and asked to take part in a marketing survey. This information was supposed to have been kept away from marketing. The sad reality is that many of the patients had died and their families were outraged. The same company then paid a large cancer fund raising organization to put out a magazine directly to patients that was completely written by the pharma company's marketing agency. It was used to smear other cancer drugs. Patients who registered for the magazine did not/and many still do not know that the pharma company has access to their name, address and e-mail information. The drug works well, but it is not nearly as perfect as the company says it is. Additionally the marketing activity and practices supporting it are mostly highly unethical and illegal.. The drug is outrageously expensive and the amount of "graft" being used to divert research and "buy" opinions in order to maintain the monopoly is amazing. We patients can't wait to see when full disclosures and conflict of interest rules are fully implemented. The drug does prolong lives, but there is absolutely no transparency at all and some patients are being harmed by being left on the drug when it is clear they are no longer benefiting from it. They are being denied access to other newer drugs that would improve their quality of life and better manage their disease. Wall Street will have a field day... Actually, I know of an incident must worse than this. Involving a well known cancer drug. The patients who were on the special access trial while waiting for approval were actually contacted post approval directly from pharma company and asked to take part in a marketing survey. This information was supposed to have been kept away from marketing. The sad reality is that many of the patients had died and their families were outraged. The same company then paid a large cancer fund raising organization to put out a magazine directly to patients that was completely written by the pharma company’s marketing agency. It was used to smear other cancer drugs. Patients who registered for the magazine did not/and many still do not know that the pharma company has access to their name, address and e-mail information.

The drug works well, but it is not nearly as perfect as the company says it is. Additionally the marketing activity and practices supporting it are mostly highly unethical and illegal..

The drug is outrageously expensive and the amount of “graft” being used to divert research and “buy” opinions in order to maintain the monopoly is amazing.

We patients can’t wait to see when full disclosures and conflict of interest rules are fully implemented.

The drug does prolong lives, but there is absolutely no transparency at all and some patients are being harmed by being left on the drug when it is clear they are no longer benefiting from it. They are being denied access to other newer drugs that would improve their quality of life and better manage their disease.

Wall Street will have a field day…

]]> By: yes http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196654 yes Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:25:12 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196654 This is only the tip of the ice berg. Look below! With epo reps, they were going into dialysis clinics and looking at patient files. Nothing better then telling a rn to pump up the dose. But dont worry, now amgen is in bed with FMC. How about a little pillow talk. Guess what? medicare is paying for it all. The outcomes not so good, dont worry increase the dose for all your patients. Patient outcomes great, overfill great, reimbursement great, stock price great. Its all about patient care. This is only the tip of the ice berg. Look below! With epo reps, they were going into dialysis clinics and looking at patient files. Nothing better then telling a rn to pump up the dose. But dont worry, now amgen is in bed with FMC. How about a little pillow talk. Guess what? medicare is paying for it all. The outcomes not so good, dont worry increase the dose for all your patients. Patient outcomes great, overfill great, reimbursement great, stock price great. Its all about patient care.

]]> By: Justice in Michigan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196549 Justice in Michigan Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:20:05 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196549 This addendum. In terms of direct marketing to pts, I was surprised at how easy this was. TAP had an arrangement with Rite Aid for a while in which pts on Prevacid would get "reminder letters" re: refilling their scripts. The letter would be from "your pharmacist," and the small print would say that TAP paid for it and that they had no identifying info for specific pts. Of course, they didn't need it as long as Rite Aid was willing to play ball. And this was not off-label. Always wondered why I stopped getting my monthly letter. Kinda' enjoyed showing them to my students in pharm. policy course. Almost as good as the fake TIME magazine with the Celebrex cover. This addendum. In terms of direct marketing to pts, I was surprised at how easy this was.

TAP had an arrangement with Rite Aid for a while in which pts on Prevacid would get “reminder letters” re: refilling their scripts. The letter would be from “your pharmacist,” and the small print would say that TAP paid for it and that they had no identifying info for specific pts.

Of course, they didn’t need it as long as Rite Aid was willing to play ball. And this was not off-label.

Always wondered why I stopped getting my monthly letter. Kinda’ enjoyed showing them to my students in pharm. policy course. Almost as good as the fake TIME magazine with the Celebrex cover.

]]> By: Justice in Michigan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196520 Justice in Michigan Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:05:39 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196520 As earlier noted, my own dermatologist knew of this story and was appropriately outraged. Off-label promotion is certainly not "news." But file-pulling, etc., starts to put this up there with the Neurontin scam. If docs were getting a piece of the action, they should be put out on the same ice flow. As earlier noted, my own dermatologist knew of this story and was appropriately outraged.

Off-label promotion is certainly not “news.” But file-pulling, etc., starts to put this up there with the Neurontin scam.

If docs were getting a piece of the action, they should be put out on the same ice flow.

]]> By: Chad Shanks, RN http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196351 Chad Shanks, RN Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:12:22 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196351 Although I do not recall the details, this scenerio/story sounds very familiar. However, I believe it involved a drug company other than Amgen. The obvious question to me would be to ask how drug reps. would possibly be able to access patient records. I believe the fine for such a HIPPA violation runs around $10,000 per incident. An effective way to prevent such abuse might be to levy these fines against the physician offices who allowed (willfully or not) the access. That should put locks on their file cabinets in a hurry. Although I do not recall the details, this scenerio/story sounds very familiar. However, I believe it involved a drug company other than Amgen. The obvious question to me would be to ask how drug reps. would possibly be able to access patient records.

I believe the fine for such a HIPPA violation runs around $10,000 per incident. An effective way to prevent such abuse might be to levy these fines against the physician offices who allowed (willfully or not) the access. That should put locks on their file cabinets in a hurry.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196345 Ed Silverman Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:58:18 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196345 Hi Snug, The most recent published research was really just one case study of an Alzheimer's patient. I realize that the news heartened families, and for good reason, but further research would be useful to better understand the situation. Regards ed Hi Snug,

The most recent published research was really just one case study of an Alzheimer’s patient. I realize that the news heartened families, and for good reason, but further research would be useful to better understand the situation.

Regards
ed

]]> By: snugpharma http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196295 snugpharma Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:17:02 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196295 Dr. Edward Lewis Tobinick, California would appear to have found a modern golden vein in finding new indications in the "off label" use of Etanercept(Enbrel). In case you missed the latest "research" published in the electronic - Journal of Neuroinflammation: http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/5/1/2 Rapid cognitive improvement in Alzheimer's disease following perispinal etanercept administration Edward L Tobinick1,2 and Hyman Gross1,2 This paper received worlwide coverage as noted proudly by Dr. Tobinick in the INR site: http://www.nrimed.com/ Link to Dr. Tobinick's TNFMedicine website containing indications for off label use of Etanercept(Enbrel) with references going back to 2000: http://www.tnfmedicine.com/tnf/tnf_in_general_medicine/index.html Dr. Edward Lewis Tobinick, California would appear to have found a modern golden vein in finding new indications in the “off label” use of Etanercept(Enbrel). In case you missed the latest “research” published in the electronic - Journal of Neuroinflammation: http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/5/1/2
Rapid cognitive improvement in Alzheimer’s disease following perispinal etanercept administration
Edward L Tobinick1,2 and Hyman Gross1,2

This paper received worlwide coverage as noted proudly by Dr. Tobinick in the INR site: http://www.nrimed.com/

Link to Dr. Tobinick’s TNFMedicine website containing indications for off label use of Etanercept(Enbrel) with references going back to 2000: http://www.tnfmedicine.com/tnf/tnf_in_general_medicine/index.html

]]> By: Lisa Van S http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196238 Lisa Van S Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:28:48 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/03/heartbreak-of-psoriasis-amgens-enbrel-tactics/#comment-196238 Maybe our A.G. Should pay attention to the Mass Drugging of New Jersey's Children under our Foster Care System. We have a HELL of a lot of off label prescribing of antipsychotics to our most vulnerable population. Id like to Ms. Milgram show some "real" backbone!! Maybe our A.G. Should pay attention to the Mass Drugging of New Jersey’s Children under our Foster Care System. We have a HELL of a lot of off label prescribing of antipsychotics to our most vulnerable population. Id like to Ms. Milgram show some “real” backbone!!

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