MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'actiq'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:38:09 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3244045&cid=t_131165_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fdid-cephalon-pay-james-mcmillen-101650.html In a recent post, I wondered why a doctor from Dillsberg, PA, a town with a total area of 0.8 square miles and only 2,063 people, would be the 5th highest paid physician on Cephalon's list of payments to physicians. That doctor -- James Mcmillen -- received $101,650 in 2009 (see "Transparency Vs. Translucency in Reporting Physician Payments").Since I first posted this bit of information, I learned that:(1) Cephalon agreed to plead guilty to promoting painkiller Actiq, narcolepsy pill Provigil and the epilepsy treatment Gabitril for uses that weren’t approved by FDA. As a result of the plea agreement, Cephalon was REQUIRED to post all payments it made to physicians in 2009 and quarterly thereafter.(2) Dr. James Mcmillen is a member of the National Fibromylgia Association (he's listed on t... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3244045 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:08:00 +0100 3244045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837172&cid=t_131165_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fcephalon-425-million-thats-expensive.html Federal authorities have announced a $425 million civil settlement with Cephalon, who were charged with off-label drug marketing.Authorities say Cephalon marketed one of the drugs, Actiq, for maladies including migraines and injuries. The fentanyl lollipop is a highly addictive narcotic only approved for cancer pain.More Ed at Pharmalot has even more! (Source: PharmaGossip) PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837172 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:10:00 +0100 1837172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841253&cid=t_131165_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F406366468%2F This looks to be the biggest such case involving a biotech. And this involves three - count ‘em, three - drugs that were allegedly marketed for years on an off-label basis in order to greatly widen the potential patient populations, according to court documents. The Cephalon payment includes $375 million in a nationwide Medicaid fraud settlement and $50 million for a corporate criminal plea (here’s the settlement agreement). The drugs in question - Actiq, a “medicated lozenge on a handle” approved only for pain in cancer patients and later linked to some 100 deaths; the Gabitril epilepsy med for adults and children over 12 years, but was pitched as an alternative to Valium and Zanax, and for treating for depression; and Provigil, a narcolepsy med that was promoted f... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841253 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:43:39 +0100 1841253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1416439&cid=t_131165_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F282207916%2F The agency is concerned that the powerful Fentora pain drug will be easily abused if made available on a widespread basis. Right now, the Cephalon lozenge is used to treat pain associated with acute pain suffered by cancer patients, but the drugmaker wants FDA approval to sell the narcotic to treat sudden pain in others. Last September, the FDA issued an advisory linking Fentora to four deaths, and Cephalon blamed inappropriate prescribing for such ailments as back pain. The drugmaker, however, denied off-label marketing activities, which came under investigation by the US attorney in Philadelphia, the Connecticut attorney general, and a congressional committee. But next Tuesday, an FDA advisory committee will meet to review Cephalon’s request for wider approval. “We are concer... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1416439 Fri, 02 May 2008 16:32:48 +0100 1416439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015911&cid=t_131165_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F181979143%2F The drugmaker struck a deal with the US Attorney in Philadelphia, and will sign a corporate integrity agreement after agreeing to a misdemeanor violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The probe reportedly focused on whether Cephalon sales reps were improperly marketing its Provigil narcolepsy drug, which docs have prescribed to treat depression and ADHD. The settlement doesn’t come as a surprise. Cephalon has been under a microscope for off-label marketing for awhile. Last February, the FDA sent the drugmaker a warning letter ordering an end to promotional material for Provigil that included claims that the drug could be used to treat fatigue, which isn’t an approved use. Two months ago, Cephalon sent letters to docs this week warning that several deaths have been linked... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015911 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:30:39 +0100 1015911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=873929&cid=t_131165_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F156847082%2F The drugmaker argues the problem is all about inappropriate prescribing. So Cephalon sent letters to docs this week warning that several deaths have been linked to Fentora, a highly addictive narcotic used to treat acute cancer pain. Here’s the catch - Fentora and its predecessor, Actiq, are approved only for use in cancer patients, but are often prescribed off-label for headaches and back pain. Cephalon has always denied any off-label marketing, but its being investigated by the US attorney in Philadelphia and the Connecticut attorney general (see page 11 of the latest SEC filing), and a congressional probe into off-label treatments. (In the wake of the OxyContin scandal, this shouldn’t come as a surprise). A Cephalon press release wasn’t specific about the number of de... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=873929 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:04:48 +0100 873929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=728727&cid=t_131165_150_f&fid=35781&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qdinformation.com%2Fqdisblog%2F2007%2F03%2F20%2Frep-waxman-requests-information-from-pharmaceutical%2F Seems Representative Henry Waxman (D, CA) wants to hear from the following companies about the following drugs for the following reasons: Lilly: Zyprexa (bipolar). Inappropriate promotion for off-label use AstraZeneca: Seroquel (schizophrenia). Inappropriate marketing Boston Scientific: drug coated stents. Safety and off-label use Cordis: drug coated stents. Safety and off-label use Cephalon: Actiq (narcotic lollipop) and Fentora (narcotic lozenge). Inappropriate marketing PharmaLive: Rep. Waxman Requests Research and Marketing Information from Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Companies : Here are the letters that were sent. WaxmanLilly.pdf WaxmanAZ.pdf WaxmanBoston.pdf WaxmanCordis.pdf WaxmanCephalon.pdf The longest letter went to Cephalon over their narcotic products . All the letters a... QDIS Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=728727 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:19:56 +0100 728727