Dutch Authorities Raid Sanofi And Glaxo Offices
4 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // October 19th, 2008 // 1:22 pm
There are reports from the Netherlands that the Health Inspectorate raided the drugmakers’ offices late last week as part of an investigation into the Health Council, an independent body that advises the Dutch government and parliament on public health issues, and recently recommended that girls should be vaccinated against HPV (look here).
In Europe, Sanofi-Aventis markets Gardasil, as part of a joint venture with Merck, and Glaxo markets Cervarix, which is not yet approved in the US. Both vaccines are given to treat HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer. The reports say that Health Council members were receiving research funding from the drugmakers at the same time the organization issued its recommendation to Health Minister Ab Klink.
The Socialist Party is demanding a parliamentary debate on the issue. The party’s chairperson Agnes Kant accuses the drugmakers of being too aggressive in their marketing and their efforts to influence decision-making, according to Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Meanwhile, a Dutch TV documentary program, Zembla, has more on this, but you need to read Dutch (look here).
UPDATE: Glaxo provides this statement: The idea of a “raid” on our office is absolutely untrue. We were informed of a planned visit and cooperated fully with the Dutch health inspectors. The TV program you reference - Zembla - contains a number of inaccuracies and our responses to the producers of this program were not taken into account. We are taking steps to correct the false information.
RobertD
From the more detailed Dutch report it seems that at least GSK has been doing the usual stupid activities like paying for research work from doctors who sit on the committee deciding vaccine policy (whether the connections were fully disclosed seems unclear). The industry is also accused of paying for web sites and other material that emphasises the risk of cervical cancer without disclosing their involvement, which could break rules against advertising prescription pharmaceuticals.
If true these are the sort of stupid and juvenile errors that the industry ought to know by now will cause them much more harm than good.
Meg
I’m glad at least some people in one country are trying to guard their girls against the potentially lethal Gardasil.
If I had a young daughter, and know now what I didn’t know several years ago, I would never consider this vaccine.
I know our wonderful, expert FDA approved it. But, as we all know, the Gold Standard there is made of tin.
Pharmacritique
If you read French, there are other details here :
« Pays-Bas : Perquisition chez Sanofi et GSK suite aux conflits d’intérêts concernant Gardasil et Cervarix. Le PS se mobilise »
http://pharmacritique.20minutes-blogs.fr/archive/2008/10/22/pays-bas-perquisition-chez-sanofi-et-gsk-suite-aux-conflits.html
or tiny URL for the same text:
http://minilien.fr/a0j5s9
ingrid
Never even believe that they do it because they are so concerned about the well being of our youngsters, they all make sure that in years to come they have a change to start introducing another vaccine or medication, that keep there money rolling in.
The dummies that listen to them, seem to be our so called well educated people who only look at their own position and how they have achieved were they are sitting now, respect? bullshit.
Already it has come out what they also put in these vacinations. just think of the trial with murcurie, to see what it whould do. So how can you believe them, if you ask what is all in it they can’t or want tell you.
But if people want it, that is their decision.
No force specially not from above who all have their ties with the big farma.
good luck to the ones that dare to speak openly and even take a change with their own lives, this has been done before. But power to you all.