Comments on: Kansas Sues 13 Drugmakers Over Medicaid Fraud http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/ News, Comment and Conversation Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:37:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Former rep http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-402465 Former rep Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:02:20 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-402465 I am appalled by Marianne's statements. You obviously have not, nor have had anyone close to you suffer from irretractable chronic pain. The FDA indication for this medication is for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, around-the-clock analgesic is needed for an extended period of time. OxyContin Tablets are NOT intended for use as a prn analgesic If pregnant moms meet this indication, then a physician can use it for their pain. Obviously, you are not a physician and do not know each case for which this medication is used. Nor do you understand what untreated moderate to severe pain might do to an undelivered baby. It is unfortunate that someone who speaks of victims, does not show the other side of the story...victims that are going untreated for their chronic pain, disabled to work and not enjoying a quality of life (I think we all deserve and want). Instead of spreading the "the criminally convicted pharma company", why don't you focus on all the victims. As a former Purdue rep, I was NEVER encouraged to sell off-label or to promote the product to doctors that did not meet the FDA indication. I am surprised by your allegations, but I am sure there is more to the story (there always is). I am appalled by Marianne’s statements. You obviously have not, nor have had anyone close to you suffer from irretractable chronic pain. The FDA indication for this medication is for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, around-the-clock analgesic is needed for an extended period of time.

OxyContin Tablets are NOT intended for use as a prn analgesic

If pregnant moms meet this indication, then a physician can use it for their pain. Obviously, you are not a physician and do not know each case for which this medication is used. Nor do you understand what untreated moderate to severe pain might do to an undelivered baby. It is unfortunate that someone who speaks of victims, does not show the other side of the story…victims that are going untreated for their chronic pain, disabled to work and not enjoying a quality of life (I think we all deserve and want). Instead of spreading the “the criminally convicted pharma company”, why don’t you focus on all the victims.
As a former Purdue rep, I was NEVER encouraged to sell off-label or to promote the product to doctors that did not meet the FDA indication. I am surprised by your allegations, but I am sure there is more to the story (there always is).

]]> By: Mark http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-387227 Mark Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:54:45 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-387227 It should therefore not surprise anyone that Johnson & Johnson is involved in implementing rent seeking legislation thru their foundation RWJF. Influencing lawmakers to ban tobacco nicotine use in bars and restaurants around the country and world in order to increase demand for the pharmaceutical nicotine products they manufacture Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette, Commit. This racketeering scam involves RWJF funding organizations like American Lung Assoc., Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, etc, etc, to the tune of $446 million to lobby for smoking bans. http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/02/smoking-bans-good-public-policy-or.html http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/06/nicoderm-manufacturer-alza-is.html The problem however, is that these bans have eliminated thousands of bars and restaurants; hundreds of thousands of jobs and thrust our economy into the abyss we now face, http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html http://www.smokersclub.com/banloss3.htm http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/09/smoking-bans-increase-unemployment-rate.html It should therefore not surprise anyone that Johnson & Johnson is involved in implementing rent seeking legislation thru their foundation RWJF. Influencing lawmakers to ban tobacco nicotine use in bars and restaurants around the country and world in order to increase demand for the pharmaceutical nicotine products they manufacture Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette, Commit. This racketeering scam involves RWJF funding organizations like American Lung Assoc., Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, etc, etc, to the tune of $446 million to lobby for smoking bans.

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/02/smoking-bans-good-public-policy-or.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/06/nicoderm-manufacturer-alza-is.html

The problem however, is that these bans have eliminated thousands of bars and restaurants; hundreds of thousands of jobs and thrust our economy into the abyss we now face,

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html

http://www.smokersclub.com/banloss3.htm

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/09/smoking-bans-increase-unemployment-rate.html

]]> By: Marianne Skolek http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379346 Marianne Skolek Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:47:35 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379346 I have been actively exposing Purdue Pharma (a $10 billion criminally convicted pharmaceutical company) and its 3 CEO's Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim for criminally marketing OxyContin. I have worked on this for over 6 years. In July 2007, they were charged in Federal Court with marketing OxyContin to patients and physicians as less likely to be addictive or abused. They pled guilty and were sentenced. I testified against them in Federal Court and in front of the US Senate. Their actions have resulted in an epidemic of OxyContin addiction and death in every state in the country. My work now focuses on further action being taken against them and J. David Haddox, the gatekeeper of Purdue Pharma's involvement in the criminal marketing of OxyContin. I am working with government agencies and the FDA to accomplish this next goal. Purdue Pharma has recently begun marketing OxyContin to pregnant women for pain. I have notified all Attorney Generals of this latest marketing ploy which will cause an epidemic of addiction and death to pregnant women and unborn babies. Purdue Pharma is also marketing for the undertreatment of pain in infants and pediatric patients which I believe is criminal. I have filed a charge against Purdue Pharma with the FDA and FTC which they have advised me they are taking "very seriously". Marianne Skolek Activist for Victims of OxyContin and Purdue Pharma - a criminally convicted pharmaceutical company http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/business/11drug-web.html?ex=1336536000&en=9cc24d9d766e92a6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink I testified against Purdue Pharma before the U.S. Senate http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=2905&wit_id=6612 908-285-1232 mskolek@aol.com www.oxydeaths.com I have been actively exposing Purdue Pharma (a $10 billion criminally convicted pharmaceutical company) and its 3 CEO’s Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim for criminally marketing OxyContin. I have worked on this for over 6 years. In July 2007, they were charged in Federal Court with marketing OxyContin to patients and physicians as less likely to be addictive or abused. They pled guilty and were sentenced. I testified against them in Federal Court and in front of the US Senate. Their actions have resulted in an epidemic of OxyContin addiction and death in every state in the country. My work now focuses on further action being taken against them and J. David Haddox, the gatekeeper of Purdue Pharma’s involvement in the criminal marketing of OxyContin. I am working with government agencies and the FDA to accomplish this next goal. Purdue Pharma has recently begun marketing OxyContin to pregnant women for pain. I have notified all Attorney Generals of this latest marketing ploy which will cause an epidemic of addiction and death to pregnant women and unborn babies. Purdue Pharma is also marketing for the undertreatment of pain in infants and pediatric patients which I believe is criminal. I have filed a charge against Purdue Pharma with the FDA and FTC which they have advised me they are taking “very seriously”.

Marianne Skolek
Activist for Victims of OxyContin and
Purdue Pharma - a criminally convicted pharmaceutical company
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/business/11drug-web.html?ex=1336536000&en=9cc24d9d766e92a6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
I testified against Purdue Pharma before the U.S. Senate
http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=2905&wit_id=6612
908-285-1232
mskolek@aol.com
http://www.oxydeaths.com

]]> By: Condor http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379325 Condor Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:10:02 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379325 Speaking of late to the party -- I didn't see Ed's until after I posted mine on the topic -- on Saturday morning: a full day late. . . . At the risk of being accused -- as a "thread diverter" -- I'll mention that it appears one of the plaintiffs has dropped out of the ENHANCE ERISA would-be class action suit against Schering (also one of the defendants in the above actions), under the impression that his severance payments might be in danger, if he continued. Plainly, such a result (depending on the timing of the suit -- and the timing of the severance) would be void, as violative of public policy, in the United States. Assuming he was let go in the latest round of layoffs, and assuming he was offered, and accepted, severance -- he cannot now be denied it, simply because he is ALREADY a party to the ERISA action. Once a suit is filed, Schering cannot "purchase his unvailability" as a witness -- via severance. He apparently had a rather substantial role in the Vytorin/Zetia study, for Schering. Much more on this, here: http://shearlingsplowed.blogspot.com/2008/10/odd-development-in-schering-class.html Great stuff above, Ed, as ever! Namaste Speaking of late to the party — I didn’t see Ed’s until after I posted mine on the topic — on Saturday morning: a full day late. . . .

At the risk of being accused — as a “thread diverter” — I’ll mention that it appears one of the plaintiffs has dropped out of the ENHANCE ERISA would-be class action suit against Schering (also one of the defendants in the above actions), under the impression that his severance payments might be in danger, if he continued.

Plainly, such a result (depending on the timing of the suit — and the timing of the severance) would be void, as violative of public policy, in the United States. Assuming he was let go in the latest round of layoffs, and assuming he was offered, and accepted, severance — he cannot now be denied it, simply because he is ALREADY a party to the ERISA action. Once a suit is filed, Schering cannot “purchase his unvailability” as a witness — via severance.

He apparently had a rather substantial role in the Vytorin/Zetia study, for Schering. Much more on this, here:

http://shearlingsplowed.blogspot.com/2008/10/odd-development-in-schering-class.html

Great stuff above, Ed, as ever!

Namaste

]]> By: The Caped Crusader http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379322 The Caped Crusader Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:06:22 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379322 Geez. What took so long for Kansas? Other states came in on this fraud stopping party over 6 years ago. Nothing like showing up late. Geez. What took so long for Kansas? Other states came in on this fraud stopping party over 6 years ago. Nothing like showing up late.

]]> By: Former pharma Marketing Exec http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379318 Former pharma Marketing Exec Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:47:29 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379318 My Apologies, for some reason I was reading "Purdue" but thinking One World Health - which is a not for for profit Pharmaceutical company. Problems when we multitask.... Correct, Purdue is privately held, founded by Physicians, main focus is pain medications (hmm, I wonder if pain can be caused by charging too much for drugs...) My Apologies, for some reason I was reading “Purdue” but thinking One World Health - which is a not for for profit Pharmaceutical company. Problems when we multitask….

Correct, Purdue is privately held, founded by Physicians, main focus is pain medications (hmm, I wonder if pain can be caused by charging too much for drugs…)

]]> By: Reb http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379282 Reb Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:59:14 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379282 Not for Profit? Are you kidding me? You think they are a "non-Profit" Pharma Company? I now have serious doubts in the use of "exec" in your title. Not for Profit? Are you kidding me? You think they are a “non-Profit” Pharma Company? I now have serious doubts in the use of “exec” in your title.

]]> By: Tonio http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379234 Tonio Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:31:06 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379234 Purdue Pharma L.P. is definitely a profit-making, in the opinion of some, profit-raking company. Purdue Pharma L.P. is definitely a profit-making, in the opinion of some, profit-raking company.

]]> By: atlex http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379230 atlex Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:19:07 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379230 I'm pretty sure that Purdue is a privately-held, for-profit company. I’m pretty sure that Purdue is a privately-held, for-profit company.

]]> By: Former pharma Marketing Exec http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/kansas-sues-13-drugmakers-over-medicaid-fraud/#comment-379217 Former pharma Marketing Exec Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:49:11 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16936#comment-379217 This is a very disturbing trend and hopefully tighter controls can be designed and put in place that will prevent things like this in the future. However, it is a bit surprising that Purdue Pharmaceutical has been caught in this web as they are a not for profit (the only one) Pharmaceutical company. So, there "motivation" i.e. profit isn't the same as the others. I wonder why they would be involved in this sort of scheme? Hope we learn more. This is a very disturbing trend and hopefully tighter controls can be designed and put in place that will prevent things like this in the future.

However, it is a bit surprising that Purdue Pharmaceutical has been caught in this web as they are a not for profit (the only one) Pharmaceutical company. So, there “motivation” i.e. profit isn’t the same as the others. I wonder why they would be involved in this sort of scheme?

Hope we learn more.

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