A Senate Investigator & Pharma Nemesis Moves On
40 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // August 10th, 2010 // 9:41 am
Pharma lobbyists on Capitol Hill and academics at major universities may be rejoicing tonight at the news that Paul Thacker, an investigator for US Senator Chuck Grassley, is leaving to join the Project on Government Oversight, a non-profit watchdog, next month. No formal announcement was made, but his departure was disclosed in an email he distributed.
During his three-year tenure, the former US Army specialist played a central role in the numerous investigations that examined prescription-drug safety and the undisclosed financial conflicts of interest involving academic researchers who simultaneously receive federal grants while doing work for drugmakers. In the process, Thacker and his colleagues prompted the National Institutes of Health and various universities to begin altering their policies on conflicts of interest (look here).
And while his actions helped transform Grassley into one of the most unpopular politicians in the pharmaceutical industry, drugmakers are now gradually posting on their web sites a variety of info - notably, payments to doctors - in advance of a new federal law that Grassley pushed as part of health care reform and which goes into effect in two years (see this and this example). Thacker enjoyed his job because “you can have an impact,” he told Nature last year. “I wanted to do something that, when it hits, it reverberates for a while.”
His better-known efforts included an investigation into GlaxoSmithKline’s Avandia diabetes pill and the allegations that the drugmaker failed to disclose certain data (look here), FDA staffers were battling over the drug (see here) and Glaxo attempted to intimidate various academic researchers who expressed concerns about the medication (see this and this). He was also behind the probe into Charles Nemeroff, a high-profile academic psychiatrist who, while at Emory University, failed to disclose his ties to Glaxo while receiving grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (see here, here and here).
Although a behind-the-scenes player, Thacker became a source of controversy himself last year when officials at Tufts University refused to allow other administrators to be panelists at a conference on conflicts of interest in medicine and research after learning that Thacker was to give the keynote speech. They were uncomfortable because Grassley was investigating ties between a Tufts professor and drugmakers, although ironically, Nemeroff spoke at the university some months later (see here).
photo thx to Nature
vetpharma
weird picture.
phx rising
never heard of this bloke. more info Ed?
Ed Silverman
Dear Phx Rising,
Thanks for the note and not sure I can tell you much more. From what I gather, he enjoyed his behind-the-scences role and relished his work. I wonder if Grassley’s investigations will continue on the same track now.
I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Regards
ed
Anne PME
I would think that many of these investigations are winding down. If Senator Grassley is reelected, I seem to recall that he terms out of Senate Finance and made a deal to become ranking or majority of Senate Judiciary next session.
ex-FDAer
Try googling Paul Thacker and looking at the wikipedia article. There is a description and links to several articles. Including one about him in nature.
Anne is correct.
Ed Silverman
Dear Ex-FDAer
If you look at the post I wrote, there is a link to the story in Nature. That is where I obtained the quote from Thacker, which I attributed to the magazine.
Hope this helps,
ed
ex-FDAer
Saw it on rereading and then saw your comment.
pharma in chennai
That was a wonderful investigation.
I think he will continue with the same speed on same track. Good go ahead
mark phd
Not from the states. Is a senatetorthacher a
mark phd
Not from the states. Is a senatetorthacher a senator?
Elton, MD
Goodbye, England’s Rose.
Keep on, holding that pose.
We love you.
We love you.
Heaven knows. England’s Rose.
Bill
All the best to Thacker pogo is lucky to have a man like him
Tommy g
Googles him. He Is a snowblower?
Pharmacurrency
Guy before, Thacker is a snowboarder as well. Not same guy.
Ed, any idea why he is leaving now or not staying on the hill. Some people are wondering as you can imagine. Also Ed, how many people does grassley have working on investigations?
Thanks Ed. Great blog
Jillian
Ed yougoing to do a Q and A with him?
billy
yes Ed-
will you be doing one or have more information?
Meowmiester
A Q and A or a P and B would be nice.
We need more info - favorite food? Favorite Twilight character?
Thomas Willard
good post-
Ed,
have you heard much reaction from Pharma or the universities as you state in your post?
Thommy in dc
interesting news here- i guess we will see how this all shakes out.
mike
what will Mr. Thacker be doing over at POGO?
kathy perkowitz
celebrate good times come on!! its a celebration!
needed some good news!
bluefaced nih
“To live lightheartedly but not recklessly; to be gay without being boisterous; to be courageous without being bold; to show trust and cheerful resignation without fatalism - this is the art of living”
the work was great. all i can say.
pillbuyer
Try googling Paul Thacker and looking at the wikipedia article. There is a description and links to several articles. Including one about him in nature.
Anne is correct.
ex-fdaer: curious to know why you think Anne is corrrect with her statement?
Lisa Van Syckel
Mr. Thacker,
You will always be a hero in my book!!
Hope you don’t mind, but, Semper Fi…
jim
pants on the ground.?
thats what happened to pharma and the uni’s
pants on the ground
Thomas Willard
Jim: the song goes:
also correct pharma and universities had their pants on the ground!!!
Pants on the ground
Pants on the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground
With the gold in your mouth
Hat turned sideways
Pants hit the ground
Call yourself a cool cat
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ downtown with your pants on the ground
Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ talkin’ with your pants on the ground.
Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground
jim
who has their pants on the ground?
tilly
good bye and good luck sweetness
your admirer mr thacker.
policie
smells fishy- why would Mr. Thacker go to POGO?
todd
just got off vacation. I work at a university.
they be celebrating!
don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
meliissa bond
Loveliness we’ve lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we’ll always carry
For our nation’s golden child
And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you brought us through the years
Meowmiester
Goodbye Pharma’s rose
May you ever grow in our pouches
You were the grace that placed itself
Where pita bread was torn apart
You called out to our country
And you whispered to those at Macy’s
Now you belong to POGO
And my cereal spells out your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a noodle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
Along Pharma’s greenest hills
Your banker’s lamp burned out long before
Your legend ever will
Loveliness we’ve lost
These empty days without your smile
This safety pin we’ll always carry
For our nation’s golden man
And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you brought us through the years
Goodbye Pharma’s rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the beanie baby that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
Goodbye Pharma’s rose
From a country lost without your soul
Who’ll miss the wings of your compassion
More than you’ll ever know
meliissa bond
pretty much sums it up
tilly7869
I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.
phillyt
I was told that if I worked hard I can be anything I want.
Well I’m still not an Elephant.
who knows that? i will miss Paul Thackers work in the UP Senate.
kim sprils
I heard POGO is a big front for Pharma?
is this true? someone tell me no!
iamtheman
kim-
no, POGO is not a front for pharma. as far as i know.
check their website.
medprobs
whats peoples views on this?
iamtheman
i dont think its good for Thacker or POGO
Mark P
Paul D. Thacker, you and Senator Grassley will be sorely missed.