Professors Of A Feather Flock Together?
9 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // September 7th, 2010 // 8:01 am
The ongoing probe of undisclosed conflicts of interest by the US Senate Finance Committee uncovered numerous instances involving academics, who simultaneously had ties to drugmakers while also conducting research that was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
And a common thread among many of those who were probed was their work concerning psychiatric drugs, such as antidepressants and antipychotics (look here). So it probably should not come as a surprise that some of these people continue to pop up in various settings where they can hob-knob if they so choose.
For those wishing to keep track of such things, Alan Schatzberg, who last week retired as chair of the psychiatry department at Stanford University (see the goodbye note here), is scheduled to appear during the Grand Rounds session that will be hosted next week by the University of Miami’s Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences (see this).
Schatzberg, you may recall, was examined by the Senate committee for his holdings in Corcept Therapeutics (background). And the chair of the Miami department? Charles Nemeroff, who became a poster boy for the conflicts issue while he chaired the psychiatry department at Emory University (see this and this). Perhaps the session will give new meaning to the notion of grand grounds.
pharmavet
The blame, guilt and evil rest solely with the drug makers, not the academics.
Bernard Carroll
Then there is the teensy weensy problem of Nemeroff holding shares in Schatzberg’s company (Corcept). He received 60,000 shares in 1998 when the company’s scientific advisory board was established. Following the IPO in 2004, he sold 20,000 shares for $137,500; cost basis to Dr. Nemeroff was $6.60. In the interim he brazenly and repeatedly exaggerated the potential of Schatzberg’s drug.
Pharmavet, I guess you were attempting sarcasm with your comment today.
Zendude
It is interesting to note in passing that Stanford has chosen someone whom, they say
“….is renowned for her work on ethical issues and public policy relating to both clinical care and research science”
Her H# is 28 (3678 citations)
Schatzberg H#=58 (12,524 citations)
Nemeroff H#=100 (41,041 citations)
Ivan
Ed, your link to the U Miami department of psychiatry reveals a Who’s Who of FOCs (friends of Charlie)lined up to give Grand Rounds. Some of the standouts (ahem) are Alan Schatzberg from Stanford, Ned Kalin from UW Madison (who also has been known to shill for Corcept), and Dwight Evans from Penn.
MsPiggy
This is not unlike organized criminals running their racketeering business like the MOB/Mafia. They need their private clubs and special hangouts so they can get together and mull over their criminal enterprises.
Heck, it’s the American Academic way correct?
John M. Nardo MD
Perhaps even more upsetting than the Pharma Rat Pack pairings is their collegiality with people in high places, like the NIMH [Early life influences risk for psychiatric disorders,> Tracy L. Bale, Tallie Z. Baram, Alan S. Brown, Jill M. Goldstein, Thomas R. Insel, Margaret M. McCarthy, Charles B. Nemeroff>, Teresa M. Reyes, Richard B. Simerly, Ezra S. Susser, and Eric J. Nestler. Biological Psychiatry, Volume 68, Issue 4, August 15, 2010].
And then there’s payback. Also on the Miami Grand Rounds list is Peter D. Buckley, M.D., Chairman at the Medical College of Georgia who chaired the committee that chose Charlie Nemeroff for the GPPA Summer CME meeting.
These Grand Rounds are a CME presentation, and here’s the statement provided:
DISCLOSURE AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST RESOLUTION: All conflicts of interest of any individual(s) in a position to control the content of this CME activity will be identified and resolved prior to this educational activity being provided. Disclosure about provider and faculty relationships, or the lack thereof, will be provided to learners.
Who is paying these people?
Evelyn Pringle
By now, I don’t know what to make of all these supposed “investigations,” by Grassley or anyone else.
They drag out for years, while we get dribbles of information leading us to believe that sooner or later, surely somebody is going to be held accountable, but nobody ever is.
Then we have the Grassley All-Stars rubbing in the fact that they are getting away with murder.
I’m sure all this will inspire more shrinks to stay off of Big Pharma’s highly paid drug pushing team.
Ivan
Speaking of cronies, there was another mutual admiration event August 26-29 featuring Chucky Nemeroff and Schatzy Schatzberg. As a matter of fact, Chucky bestowed an award on Schatzy with fulsome praise. The event was the 3rd Annual Chair Summit for Neuroscience Development. The general idea seemed to be to feature Chucky and Schatzy and their ilk as role models for up and coming psychiatry residents. You can read all about it here http://www.neurosciencecme.com/cmea.asp?ID=461 The lineup of luminary chairmen was distinctly down market. Tacky, tacky, tacky.
Who stepped up to fund the fun? These guys.
USF Health and CME Outfitters, LLC, gratefully acknowledge an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in support of this CE activity.
This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Cephalon, Inc.
This program is supported by an educational grant from Janssen, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., administered by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly USA, LLC. For further information concerning Lilly grant funding visit http://www.lillygrantoffice.com.
Supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.
This educational activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Sepracor Inc.
Credit Information
John M. Nardo MD
Ivan,
A remarkable list of the usual suspects - both those in attendance and their sponsors [http://www.neurosciencecme.com/cmea.asp?ID=461]. And it looks as if Dr. Kalin has passed Dr. Nemeroff with the longest COI declaration. Charlie’s slipping…