Senate Committees Probe Johnson & Johnson
5 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // November 4th, 2008 // 4:45 pm
The health care giant is being probed for two reasons - relationships with psychiatrists regarding an unnamed medication, and relationships with doctors and unspecified organizations concerning its Cypher stents, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (see page 30).
On October 16, the US Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Special Committee on Aging sent a letter seeking info about the Cypher stent relationships. And the Finance Committee, separately, sent a letter on October 23 regarding info “on any payments or benefits to a number of specified psychiatrists associated with psychiatric professional associations or otherwise authorities in their field.” Which drug may be involved? Well, J&J sells the Risperdal and Invega antipsychotics, although a J&J spokesman says the health care giant has nothing more to say.
Anon
While they are there, can we ask them to probe into the Ortho Evra scandal?
Doug Bremner
They also make Topamax (topiramate), an anti-convulsant used off label for psychiatric conditions. It might be for off label promotion issues.
Ima Misfit
These investigations are really becoming a joke. In a quick review of J&J’s 10Q I counted 35 active investigations by the DOJ, SEC, Senate Committees, House Committies, OIG, State Attorneys General, and a Federal District Court Grand Jury. Dozens of subpoenas have been issued, and numerous states have joined each of the Attorneys General investigations.
Most of these investigations have been going on for two to five years.
When is this government going to actually hold J&J accountable? Or are they just going to investigate them through eternity?
Salmon
Ima,
Federal action requires the US attorney general to do something. This is not going to happens so long as Bush is in Office. Even Congress has limited clout. Right now a single anonymous senator is holding up a vote on the Whistleblower protection act and it is likely going to die when this Congress ends, even though it has overwhelming support in both houses of Congress and we have a final version acceptable to both houses.
We need to have sufficient political pressure (i.e. publicity so that Obama and the next Congress don’t allow things to be simply languish).
Salmon
Ima Misfit
Salmon,
The choice of Mukasey as A.G. was another big win for big pharma.
Muaksey was a partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler (PBWT) for many years before he was appointed Federal Judge in the southerd district of NY. When he retired, he went back to PBWT until he was appointed A.G.
Mukasey worked with Taysen Van Itallie at PBWT for about 8 years, in the 1980s, before he became a Judge and before Van Itallie went to work for J&J.
Van Itallie is now head of all litigation at J&J.
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler has represented J&J for decades, and is currently representing J&J in the multi-billion dollar price fraud litigaton.
Also, J&J General Council and Chief Compliance Officer Russell Deyo was an Assistant US Attorney in NJ before taking a job at J&J.
While at PBWT Mukasey defended corporations and executives charged with antitrust violations and white-collar crimes.
Former J&J General Council, George Frazza, is “Of Council” at PBWT.
J&J and Michael Mukasey have formed a powerful partnership that keeps all of these major investigations out of the publics’ eye.