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 'enbrel'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:11:52 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953365&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fzehib3Dyut8%2F For the past five years, the US Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, has been investigating Amgen for allegedly violating the False Claims Act. At issue are a host of allegations, most notably that Amgen violated HIPAA and offered kickbacks to doctors in order to boost sales of its various meds and steal market share from such rivals Johnson & Johnson. Along the way, however, the biotech believed an agreement was reached in which the government would coordinate contact with current Amgen employees, but then argued the understanding was breached when the feds began attempting to conduct interviews and subpoena documents. And so last year, Amgen filed a protective order, but late last week, a judge upheld an earlier recommendation (see this) and ruled the feds can continue pursuing Amgen emp... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953365 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:28:30 +0100 4953365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704952&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fphil-mickelson-is-now-regulated-by-fda.html Recall that last summer Phil Mickelson was quoted in the press as saying he was treating his Psoriatic Arthritis with ENBREL. He was also quoted as saying: "I have no aches and pains. My back feels great. I feel stronger and more flexible than I've ever been" (see here).At that time, Phil may or may not have been in talks with AMGEN/PFIZER to sign on as a celebrity spokesperson, but the simultaneous appearance of multiple news stories featuring Phil & ENBREL sure looked like an audition to show AMGEN/PFIZER what he could do for them.During last week's 2011 Masters Tournament, Phil finished tied for 27th place! Consequently, I didn't see much of him on TV hitting a golf ball. I did, however, see a lot of him on TV ads for ENBREL. Now that he is featured in ENBREL TV ads, everyone knows ... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704952 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:31:00 +0100 4704952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545251&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fon-course-with-phil-lacks-social-media.html This is NOT an attack on Phil Mickelson! I've already done that, been there (see Phil Mickelson "Opens Up" to Arthritis Today Magazine and Is Phil Mickelson Shilling for Enbrel?). So, relax and proceed to the back nine! This is about the "non-branded" disease awareness campaign just announced by Pfizer & Amgen, the companies that bring you ENBREL. The centerpiece of the campaign is the "On Course with Phil" website, which is pretty lame by today's social media standards. Before I get to that, let me show you the homepage screen that I just captured:In case you missed it, I circled the "money shot," which is not Phil hitting the ball in the hole, but the prominent link to a "treatment option." The link, of course, leads directly to the branded ENBREL website. Surely, this biologic compo... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545251 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:45:00 +0100 4545251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501810&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fphil-mickelson-opens-up-to-arthritis.html Top pro golfer Phil Mickelson is featured on the cover of the Mar-April 2011 issue of Arthritis Today magazine (see photo). Recall that Mickelson announced that he had psoriatic arthritis last August in a news story titled "PGA Championship 2010, Whistling Straits: Phil Mickelson Has Psoriatic Arthritis - Uses Enbrel To Help Manage Condition."In that story, Mickelson was quoted as saying "I have no aches and pains. My back feels great. I feel stronger and more flexible than I've ever been." (see "Is Phil Mickelson Shilling for Enbrel?").When he made that statement, Phil was obviously demonstrating to AMGEN/PFIZER -- the companies that market ENBREL -- what he can do to help them promote their product. AMGEN/PFIZER were suitably impressed and signed him up a few months later (or so they say... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501810 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:51:00 +0100 4501810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322689&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Famgen-blows-its-marketing-budget-on.html Back in August 2010, I asked "Is Phil Mickelson Shilling for Enbrel?" (see this post). My question was prompted by a couple of "news" stories, one of which proclaimed "PGA Championship 2010, Whistling Straits: Phil Mickelson Has Psoriatic Arthritis - Uses Enbrel To Help Manage Condition." The story also included this quote from Phil: "I have no aches and pains. My back feels great. I feel stronger and more flexible than I've ever been."That's quite a claim! If Phil made such a claim while being a paid spokesperson for ENBREL, he would have probably violated FDA regulations regarding unsubstantiated claims. He also would have violated FTC regulations regarding celebrity endorsements and testimonials by not disclosing "material connections" (payments or free products) between advertisers and... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322689 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:30:00 +0100 4322689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220456&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FqSI0MgV5jWg%2F More than a decade ago, Elena Ferrante worked as an oncology sales rep for Immunex and would leave her Yorkshire Terrier puppy in her car when visiting docs. One day, though, a nurse suggested Ferrante bring the dog inside in hopes of giving chemo patients a psychological lift. The gambit worked and soon Ferrante was bringing Justine with her into various offices, but only if given permission. “I brought pictures of my dog like some people bring pictures of their children with them,” she says. “My dogs are my children. And most people are interested in dogs. But it was always in a carrier. And I never brought her in if she wasn’t wanted. She would brighten the day for chemo patients. She would sit in their lap. You know, these are people who are going through chemo, whi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220456 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:10:27 +0100 4220456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197365&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FC9Ox0nwZNCI%2F Over the past week, word has leaked out that Amgen, a beleaguered biotech, is interested in buying Actelion Pharmaceuticals in hopes of expanding into the cardiovascular market. But a couple of fund managers say they are not impressed with the possibility and one large Amgen shareholder (see photo) complains that such a move is “faulty thinking by a hard-up executive staff.” What would Amgen get? For the most part, Actelion is a one-trick pony; the drugmaker last year derived about 85 percent of its revenue from Tracleer, a med that is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and generated about $1.5 billion in sales. There are also four experimental meds in the final throes of testing, including two that are also being developed to treat PAH (see pages 17 and 18 of the an... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197365 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:48:08 +0100 4197365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862185&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fis-phil-mickelson-shilling-for-enbrel.html The golf world was stunned by Tiger Woods' recent poor performance. Another bit of "stunning" news hit the golf world yesterday when the #2 ranked duffer Phil Mickelson announced that he suffers from Psoriatic Arthritis and is being treated with Enbrel. See "Phil Mickelson Arthritis: Will Play At PGA Whistling Straights". The New York Times also ran a story: "Immune Disorder Could Be an Enduring Test for Mickelson".Both these articles mentioned that he was being treated with Enbrel, a drug jointly marketed by AMGEN & PFIZER. The first article I cited includes the subtitle "PGA Championship 2010, Whistling Straits: Phil Mickelson Has Psoriatic Arthritis - Uses Enbrel To Help Manage Condition" and includes this quote from Phil: "I have no aches and pains. My back feels great. I feel stro... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862185 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:54:00 +0100 3862185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827346&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FelwdGi0PLwE%2F Over the past few years, two Amgen reps have battled the biotech over arbitration proceedings they claim they were forced to enter as a consequence of employment disputes. In 2006, Elena Ferrante filed a $10 million lawsuit, charging she was fired in retaliation for not complying with an allegedly improper marketing strategy for the Enbrel rheumatoid arthritis med (background). Similarly, Marc Engleman accused Amgen of forcing reps to engage in off-label promotion and patient privacy violations. He subsequently resigned and later sued the biotech and an arbitration group for “procedurally unconscionable” practices (background here). In both cases, arbitration has dragged on with no apparent end in sight. Meanwhile, Amgen has successfully convinced arbitrators in both cases that con... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827346 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:51:46 +0100 3827346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526947&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGcH7rZ8YJbU%2F Another month, another list. Once again, there is speculation about which medications will generate the most revenue over the next few years. Interestingly, the latest conclusion mirrors another recent list that suggests conventional pills will easily be eclipsed. Only two small molecules make this newest ranking, which was compiled by EvaluatePharma. Not surprisingly, one of them is AstraZeneca’s Crestor cholesterol fighter, although the newest list differs slightly from this list. And so once again, there are myriad implications raised, including the strategic direction pursued by the biggest drugmakers and the costs for patients. The percentage figure refers to sales growth from 2009 to 2016… 1. Humira (arthritis) Abbott Labs/Eisai - $10.1b; 9 percent 2. Avastin (cancer) Roc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526947 Mon, 03 May 2010 12:47:00 +0100 3526947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3468018&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZbwVlkKVymw%2F And the winner is…. Roche’s Avastin, which is used to treat various cancers. Everyone loves a list, of course, so Reuters compiled this ranking and the most interesting finding is there seems to be just one pill that will be among the biggest sellers in 2014. In other words, injectables will dominate. Assuming this is reasonably accurate, what might it say about big drugmakers? Will they spend more in the lab or strike still more deals with smaller prey developing the next big thing? Will pills become passe? And what will it mean for patient costs? Consensus sales forecasts for world’s top 10 drugs in 2014: 1. Avastin (cancer) Roche - $8.9b 2. Humira (arthritis) Abbott - $8.5b 3. Enbrel (arthritis) Pfizer - $8b 4. Crestor (cholestero... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3468018 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:58:25 +0100 3468018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216844&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F8eoBiYX51pI%2F Nice to you see again. This has been a busy week, yes? And so much more lies ahead. But we persevere and we hope you are doing so as well. To see you through, we have gathered the usual smattering of interesting items. So grab a cup of something stimulating and get started on your day. And remember to stay in touch… Rotavirus Vaccine Can Sicken Immune-Deficient Babies (The Wall Street Journal) Japan’s Otsuka Holdings May Go Public (Reuters) Lilly Earnings Meet Analyst Estimates (Bloomberg News) Kentucky Judge Awards $5.3M In Penalties Against AstraZeneca (Kentucky.com) Amgen And Glaxo To Co-Promote Enbrel (The Wall Street Journal) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216844 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:47:07 +0100 3216844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159974&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCT-KXAJrr3s%2F In October 2006, a former Amgen sales rep filed a complaint against the biotech for $10 million before an arbitrator, claiming she was fired in retaliation the year before for not complying with an allegedly improper marketing strategy for the Enbrel rheumatoid arthritis med. Elena Ferrante claimed Amgen sales managers encouraged reps to promote off-label and encouraged docs to prescribe Enbrel to patients who may not have needed the drug, according to Ferrante’s lawyer, Lydia Cotz (here is the complaint). When Ferrante refused to cooperate, Lydia Cotz, Ferrante’s attorney, says her client was fired, but ostensibly for other reasons, including not attending client dinners. Ferrante was a top seller who made about $400,000 a year in sales at the time she was dismissed, according to ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159974 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:41:55 +0100 3159974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977569&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAJal4KDWV30%2F Judging by a recent survey, that may seem to be the case. Direct-to-consumer ads are mentioned mostly by docs to increase patient acceptance for a medicine that’s already been chosen. But unaided - or spontaneous - mention by patients or actual patient requests for a specific med is a rare phenomenon, according to the survey by Verilogue. The firm tracked brand requests coupled with a reference to specific ad campaigns across 12,500 doctor-patient conversations from 2008 and covered 20 disease states and 46 different branded prescription drugs. Overall, DTC ‘pull-through’ in conversations in a doc’s office is low - just 3 percent - and specific patient requests for advertised med are even lower - .002 percent. Significantly, the most frequently pulled-through brand... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977569 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:20:15 +0100 2977569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939563&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FabXr0sBkcoo%2F The Mathilda and Terence Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Trust filed its lawsuit in federal court in Delaware, seeking royalties and damages from Wyeth and Amgen for infringing a patent for treating arthritis. The drug makers jointly market Enbrel, a best-selling med, for treating rheumatoid arthritis. In its lawsuit, the trust alleges its 2001 patent was developed by Marc Feldmann and Ravinder Maini, both with the Imperial College London. The patent relates to treating arthritis by co-administering methotrexate and drugs that block receptors to an inflammation-causing protein called tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFa) such as Enbrel, according to the lawsuit (you can read it here). Amgen and Wyeth have refused demands for royalty payments, the complaint said. The Enbrel website says... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939563 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:56:51 +0100 2939563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006555&cid=t_151764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Funderstanding-biologics-how-they-differ-from-drugs-and-why-they-cost-more%2F Many of our readers either already have or will in the future encounter the possibility of being treated with a biologic medication. This is because biologics have revolutionized the treatment of such chronic illnesses as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, and are widely used in treating a variety of cancers. To name just a few, these products include Enbrel, Humira, Remicade (infliximab), Avonex (inteferon beta-1a), Betaseron (interferon beta-1b), Tysabri, Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), Herceptin (trastuzumab), Rituxan (rituximab), Neupogen (filgrastim), Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and Leukine (sargramostim). So just what are biologics, how do they differ from more traditional drugs, and why are they so expensive?Although some b... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006555 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:06:00 +0100 2006555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1886686&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F422796997%2F A New Jersey arbitrator ruled that a former Amgen sales rep can proceed with a wrongful termination claim against the biotech, a decision that may have implications for other whistleblowers who work in the state and seek to report objectionable practices to their employers but not government agencies. Elena Ferrante, 50, marketed the Enbrel treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in New Jersey between 2002 and 2005, but claims she was fired in retaliation for not complying with what she calls an unethical and illegal marketing strategy after reporting the practices to her supervisors (back story). Amgen contended Ferrante was required to not only report allegedly off-label marketing directives to her company, but also to an outside agency. The ruling by the arbitrator, retired US ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1886686 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:12:11 +0100 1886686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809937&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F396270911%2F The health care giant released results of a Phase III study showing ustekinumab was just as safe and effective as the top-selling med sold by Amgen and Wyeth, which has a 75 percent share of the market, but required fewer injections. Patients received either twice-weekly injections of Enbrel or 45 mg or 90 mg injections of the J&J drug at the start of the trial and four weeks later. After 12 weeks, 74 percent given the higher dose of ustekinumab and 68 percent on the lower dose saw at least a 75 percent reduction in psoriasis symptoms, such as red scaly patches. By comparison, 57 percent on Enbrel saw a similar reduction (here is the statement). The drug works by blocking interleukin-12 and interleukin-23, which are proteins linked to inflammation in psoriasis and other autoimmune dis... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809937 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:20:22 +0100 1809937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1786183&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F388673081%2F The University of Iowa filed a lawsuit this week against Amgen for allegedly using it patented biotechnology to make two best-selling drugs - Enbrel, which is marketed to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, and Vectibix, which is used to treat patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have failed chemotherapy. In its lawsuit, which was filed in US District Court in Iowa, the university accuses Amgen of infringing two patents that were filed in 1992 and 1995 by Mark Stinski, a microbial virology professor, who asigned them to the University of Iowa Research Foundation. Amgen is also accused of ignoring the university’s entreaties, according to the suit. Enbrel sales for 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $3.2 billion, $2.9 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, according to Amgen&#... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1786183 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:26:01 +0100 1786183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1769135&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F383351047%2F The agency say the manufacturers of Humira, Cimzia, Enbrel, and Remicade must strengthen existing warnings in the prescribing info and medication guides due to risks of developing histoplasmosis, an opportunistic fungal infection. Most of the cases in the Ohio River and Mississippi River valleys and in at least 21 of those, the infection wasn’t initially recognized. Twelve patients died. The four drugs, known as tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers, or TNF-inhibitors, which suppress the immune system, are approved to treat such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, and Crohn’s disease. Humira is made by Abbott; Cimzia is made by UCB; Enbrel is sold by Amgen and Remicade is sold by Johnso... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1769135 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:48:11 +0100 1769135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646114&cid=t_151764_137_f&fid=35371&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthecaregiver.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fdoes-etanercept-enbrel-work-on.html A study reported in the journal BioMed Central BMC Neurology showed that 12 patients improved language recall shortly after treatment with Enbrel, or etanercept, a rheumatoid arthritis drug. The study conducted by Dr. Edward Tobinick, director of the Institute for Neurological Research, was conducted in house without any of the controls usually seen in clinical trials.The study is limited because people knew they were getting the drug and the result could be explained by the "placebo" effect. It is not unusual for Alzheimer's patients to show improvement in open-label studies.One has to wonder about Dr. Tobinck's real motives since he charges $10,000-$40,000 per treatment. An outrageous price in my opinion. He does hold several patents on a special method of injecting the drug into the nec... CareGiver, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646114 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:31:00 +0100 1646114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1640369&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F341431798%2F Welcome to the working week. Good to see you again. Hope your weekend was refreshing. Ours was quiet as we stuck to our knitting by doing some chores and tending to the shortest of the short people. Now, though, the routine reasserts itself. So grab your cup of whatever and dig in… Sanofi Buys Vitamin Maker For $544M (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Pays Biota $19M To Settle Relenza Suit (Bloomberg News) Novartis Unit Recalling Prescription Eyedrops (The Associated Press) Shire Cuts Tax Bill By Moving HQ (The Financial Times) Enbrel & Alzheimer’s Causes More Criticism (Yahoo/Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1640369 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:50:03 +0100 1640369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1639268&cid=t_151764_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F340172851%2Fcombination_drug_therapy_impro.html A new study at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust in the United Kingdom and recently published in The Lancet, found that patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis have benefited from a drug combination of Enbrel (etanercept) and methotrexate.The study, funded by Wyeth manufacturer of Enbrel, found that combining the two drugs improved both remission and radiographic non-progression rates within 1 year when compared to treatment with methotrexate alone. Patients taking the drug combination were also found to stay employed.The study consisted of 500 outpatients who had no been treated with methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug. Patients were randomly assigned either methotrexate plus 50 milligrams a week of Enbrel or methotrexate alone.The study found that whi... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1639268 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:00:21 +0100 1639268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561295&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F324265427%2F Earlier this year, Amgen went out of its way to disavow a widely publicized case study that suggested Enbrel, which is only approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, may be useful in combating Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the biotech issued successive press releases due to the single-patient case study, which was published last January by a Los Angeles physician in The Journal of Neuroinflammation and that suggested “rapid cognitive improvement” occurred in an 81-year-old patient, beginning only two hours after Enbrel was administered. The case report then noted his improvement lasted during a seven-week follow-up program that included weekly injections. Not surprisingly, the case report generated significant media coverage (CNN and BBC) and Internet chatter, which i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561295 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:11:06 +0100 1561295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522439&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F313061209%2F An FDA advisory committee will meet on Wednesday to review a request by Amgen to market Enbrel for moderate to severe forms of psoriasis in children. The med is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in adults, but is approved only for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in kids. FDA medical reviewers are concerned about life-threatening complications, according to the FDA briefing documents. The reviewers noted that “plaque psoriasis is not a life-threatening disease in childhood and complications are rare and largely psychosocial.” Enbrel, however, is “associated with life-threatening toxicities such as sepsis, anaphylaxis, and significant long-term morbidities such as malignancy, congestive heart failure, and demyelinating disease.” The FDA recently reviewed ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522439 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:32:13 +0100 1522439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497502&cid=t_151764_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F305317831%2Fhumira_remicade_and_enbrel_under_fda_review_for_cancer_link.html   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it is investigating whether a group of arthritis drugs increase the risk of pediatric cancer. The group of drugs include Abbott Laboratories' Humira, Schering-Plough's Remicade and Enbrel by Amgen and Wyeth.The FDA stated that it has received 30 reports of children and young adults developing cancer while taking the arthritis medications. The reports were received to the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System over a 10 year period. Children with arthritis, and sometimes Crohn's disease, are prescribed these drugs to block a chemical that causes inflammation. (Source: PharmaGazette) PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497502 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:00:36 +0100 1497502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1494559&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F304588986%2F The agency is conducting a safety review of Enbrel, Humira, Cimzia and Remicade for a possible association with lymphoma and other cancers in children and young adults who have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Crohn’s disease. So far, the FDA has received 30 reports over the past 10 years, and about half of the cancers were lymphomas and included both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The FDA notes that the drugs suppress the immune system by blocking the activity of TNF, a substance in the body that can cause inflammation and lead to immune system-related diseases such as JIA, and Crohn’s disease. And the agency has been aware of the possible association between the use of TNF blockers and the development of cancer - prescribing info for all four TNF blockers warns about... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1494559 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:40:38 +0100 1494559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1464202&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F296041820%2F As a condition of employment, Amgen requires its employees to sign arbitration agreements. This has been a trend for a number of years in corporate America and the reason is that this method of resolving disputes can be less expensive for employers, since arbitration doesn’t involve the court system. One former Amgen sales rep, however, is challenging the practice. In a lawsuit, Marc Engelman accuses the biotech of forcing reps to engage in off-label promotion and patient privacy violations to market the Enbrel medication for psoriasis. But he also charges the arbitration agreement is “procedurally unconscionable” and names the American Arbitration Association as a co-defendant. How is it unconscionable? For instance, the deal doesn’t allow for dispute involving ret... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1464202 Thu, 22 May 2008 19:30:40 +0100 1464202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1415017&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F281711069%2F And so the time has come once again to put aside the workload and break for a little dinner. We hope your day went well and you accomplished what you set out to do. As for us, we have a little errand to run for Mrs. Pharmalot. A bit of a surprise, in fact. So don’t say anything…. Shareholders Demand Three Enzon Directors Resign (Yahoo/AP) FDA Formalizes New Black Box Warning For Enbrel (Yahoo/Reuters) Merck CEO Not Giving Up On Cordaptive (Yahoo/Reuters) Sepracor Cuts Costs And Beats Estimates (Forbes) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1415017 Thu, 01 May 2008 22:23:28 +0100 1415017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1389198&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F274688926%2F The line is growing ever longer. First, the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee opened investigations into the controversial Vytorin trial, known as Enhance. Then, the New York and Connecticut Attorneys General begin their own probes into the handling of study data and the marketing of the expensive cholesterol med. Earlier this month, New Jersey’s Anne Milgram, issued her own subpoenas to Merck and Schering-Plough, according to the Merck earnings statement that was released this morning. The subpoenas were dated April 4. The Vytorin study has attracted enormous attention because the drugmakers delayed results for nearly two years; briefly changed the primary endpoint without consulting their lead investigator; named an independent panel to review dat... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1389198 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:53:07 +0100 1389198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1367039&cid=t_151764_137_f&fid=36083&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIAmAnAlzheimersCaregiver%2F%7E3%2F268538777%2Fetanercept-enbel-in-action-see.html clipped from alzheimersreadingroom.blogspot.comTo watch the video on how this works with Alzheimer's patients click here The Institute for Neurological Research To read about the on going research study click here Arthritis Drug Success With Alzheimer's Prompts Calls For More Investment In ResearchTo read my previous detailed post on this topic... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver) I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1367039 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:07:01 +0100 1367039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347617&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F263375822%2F By and large, Amgen shareholders are not a happy bunch. The biotech’s stock is down about one-third in the past year, thanks to various FDA warnings and health risks associated with its Aranesp and Epogen anemia meds, not to mention reduced Medicare reimbursement. For awhile, ceo Kevin Sharer appeared in denial, until he began slashing jobs a few months ago. The poor performance ate away at his compensation last year by 27 percent, but Sharer still managed to get $13.2 million. Not bad for a bad year. All this has frustrated Steve Silverman,* a retired insurance executive who holds an undisclosed amount of Amgen stock in a family trust. A vocal critic of Amgen management, he wants Sharer to go. He explained his views… Pharmalot: Beyond the usual sort of research, how have you g... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347617 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:59:48 +0100 1347617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1307878&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F253018300%2F The biologic, which is used to treat arthritis and psoriasis, which already included a warning over the risk of TB and other infections, but gets the more serious warning to suggest screening and monitoring patients for TB, including those who test negative for latent tuberculosis infection. The Black Box aslo notes that TB has been seen in patients receiving TNF-blocking agents, a group of meds that also includes Abbott’s Humira and Johnson & Johnson’s Remicade, which contain similar warnings. In its statement, Amgen says TB may be due to reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection or to new infection. Moreover, the labeling notes TB has been seen in about 0.01 percent of patients who have taken Enbrel in clinical trials, although Amgen maintains data suggests the risk... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1307878 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:13:13 +0100 1307878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1291148&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F249040604%2F The ongoing battle between the biotech and some former sales reps - who allege they were forced to promote the psoriasis treatment off-label and violate patient privacy - now centers on a pair of older studies showing the biologic was linked to congestive heart failure. The issue, which is mentioned in a complaint filed by a former rep (look at item 17) is whether Amgen disregarded study data, altered the drug warning so that only people with advanced CHF were described as at risk, and then encouraged reps to promote Enbrel to treat congestive heart failure. The rep is suing Amgen for $10 million for wrongful termination and her complaint contains various allegations that reps were told to promote off-label and encourage docs to prescribe Enbrel to patients who may not have needed the dru... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1291148 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:02:02 +0100 1291148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1286443&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F247571449%2F In the fall of 2006, Amgen was worried about a key product - Enbrel, a biologic used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The med was a big seller, but hit a rough patch - sales in that year’s third quarter rose a mere 5 percent to $705 million thanks to increasing competition. And this was well below the 20 percent growth rate expected by Wall Street. During a conference call with analysts, Amgen executive vp George Morrow expressed his frustration: “Enbrel is not meeting our expectations despite considerable effort.” Docs simply weren’t prescribing Enbrel as often as Amgen expected, and Morrow told analysts that week that the biotech planned a direct-to-consumer advertising campaign and other tactics to encourage patients to discuss the drug with their docs... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1286443 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:31:00 +0100 1286443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1223685&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Famgen-whistleblowing-reps-are-big.html First one former sales representative, then another from drugmaker Amgen Inc. claimed they were fired or forced out for refusing to go along with unethical, even illegal practices to boost sales of the pricey drug Enbrel among psoriasis patients. Now two federal agencies and four state attorneys general are investigating the practices of the company, according to the sales reps' New Jersey lawyer, who said memos and other material show that the health of some patients likely was jeopardized.Amgen's sales force was pushed to encourage dermatologists to switch psoriasis patients from other treatments to Enbrel, even if they had common medical conditions Enbrel could have worsened, said ex-saleswoman Elena Ferrante of Montvale, N.J., who said she was fired in August 2005 after eight years of ... PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1223685 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:53:00 +0100 1223685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1212319&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F230296059%2F Two years ago, Amgen was worried about increased competition in the psoriasis market for its Enbrel medication. And the biotech has since been accused by former sales reps of encouraging various improper activities to boost prescriptions - reps were allegedly told to pull patient files from doctors’ office, orchestrate letter-writing campaigns to patients and insurers, and organize and attend patient outreach seminars. In their complaints, the former sales reps say these efforts raised questions about off-label marketing and patient privacy. Meanwhile, one doctor banned Amgen from his clinic after being upset by a sales call from a district manager. The allegations are now being looked at by the New Jersey attorney general, the Florida attorney general and the US Senate Finance Commi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1212319 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:42:13 +0100 1212319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1195080&cid=t_151764_137_f&fid=36083&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIAmAnAlzheimersCaregiver%2F%7E3%2F217683838%2Finstant-alzheimers-drug-claim.html Ten minutes after the injection, the researchers reported that the patient was calmer, less frustrated and more attentive. He could correctly identify California as his home state, but incorrectly identified the current year. At two hours, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment had improved from seven out of a possible 30 to 15. The man's wife and son... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver) I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1195080 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:41:12 +0100 1195080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186087&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F225233808%2F In May 2006, David Peng, a dermatology professor at the University of Southern California, was disturbed by claims made by an Amgen district manager, who was trying to boost Enbrel at the expense of an older psoriasis med, methotrexate. And so Peng banned Amgen reps from doing ‘lunch-in-learns’ with residents at his clinic at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, and decided to use a med by Genentech for an investigator-initiated study. We know this after reading an e-mail from an Amgen rep, Matt Mitchell, who was at the May 2006 sales call. He wrote this follow-up note to his manager: “During our call, he (Peng) expressed to me that the call you and I made on him in May really upset him. He took issue with some of the information you expressed to him about MTX: its safety... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186087 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:22:33 +0100 1186087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1170216&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F221090284%2F First, the US Senate Finance Committee and then the New Jersey Attorney General want to know about allegations made by former Amgen sales reps, who have filed complaints charging they suffered retaliation after resisting orders to promote Enbrel off-label and pull patient files from physician offices. Now, the Florida Attorney General, Bill McCollum, is also interested. One of the lawyers in his office is scheduled to speak this week with both former Amgen sales reps, according to Lydia Cotz, the attorney for the reps. At issue is the interplay between sales reps and docs, a hot topic as regulators, legislators and law enforcement officials increasingly scrutinize pharma’s marketing practices. In Amgen’s case, the former sales reps say they were instructed to use allegedly impr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1170216 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:44:46 +0100 1170216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1170220&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F220994769%2F As the biotech hunkers down to defend itself against charges of off-label marketing and violating patient privacy, a growing number of lawyers have been retained to help with the defense. And Amgen needs help. Not only are the charges contained in complaints filed by former sales reps, who argue they suffered retaliation for complaining about these activities, but the New Jersey Attorney General has issued a subpoena and the US Senate Finance Committee is eyeing the affair as well. And so Amgen has hired teams of lawyers from two prominent firms. From McGuireWoods in Chicago, the biotech has Joel Spitz, Rodney Satterwhite and Peter Milianti, all of whom specialize in various employment matters. And from the Gibbons law firm in Newark, New Jersey, which is known for defending drugmakers, Am... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1170220 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:49:11 +0100 1170220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1179243&cid=t_151764_87_f&fid=35060&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthnewsblog.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fhnblog.pl%3Fhnblog%3D118081 This is London reports that U.S. researchers have had surprisingly positive results using an arthritis drug called Enbrel on alzheimer's patients. The drug is injected into the patients spine. One patient showed improvements within in minutes. Some patients have been able to drive again after receiving the treatements. The drug, called Enbrel, is injected into the spine where it blocks a chemical responsible for damaging the brain and other organs. A pilot study carried out by U.S. researchers found one patient had his symptoms reversed "in minutes". Other patients have shown some improvements in symptoms such as forgetfulness and confusion after weekly injections over six months. The study of 15 patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's has just been published in the Journal of Ne... HealthNewsBlog.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1179243 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:00:00 +0100 1179243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1158442&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F218377024%2F Anne Milgram, who has already formed a task force to explore the curious interplay between docs and pharma, is intrigued by the plight of two former Amgen reps. You may recall that we wrote how a rep from New Jersey charges the biotech forced her to illegally promote Enbrel for off-label use - in this case, people with mild, not moderate or severe psoriasis. And a former California rep says he was told to rummage through patient files in physician offices, which violates privacy laws. And so the New Jersey attorney general has issued a subpoena seeking a “comprehensive array of documents and information concerning the marketing, sale and prescription of Enbrel between July 2002 and the present,” according to a statement. The principal focus of the inquiry is whether Amgen unla... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1158442 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:13:12 +0100 1158442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1158449&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F218200771%2F This has been quite a busy week, which only makes things more fun and interesting. We hope your week is going as well as ours. To help you along, here are a few of the latest nuggets. So grab a cup of something hot, and dig in… FDA Wants More Info On Glaxo’s Cervarix Vaccine (MarketWatch.com) Roche Extends Ventana Bid - Again (Arizona Daily Star) Enbrel Effective In Treating Psoriasis In Kids: Study (US News/HealthDay) Cordis Sues Abbott For Fifth Time Over Stent Patent (Medill.Northwestern.edu) India’s Drugmakers Want Government R&D Tax Break (PharmaTimes) ImpactRx Buys Paragon Research (press release) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1158449 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:00:53 +0100 1158449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1154083&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F217326193%2F Over the past month, we wrote that two former Amgen sales reps are suing the biotech for being forced to improperly promote Enbrel, which is used to treat psoriasis. A New Jersey woman is seeking $10 million after claiming she was fired in retaliation for not complying with directives that included convincing docs to prescribe the med unnecessarily. And a California man charges he was ordered to pull patient files as part of a scheme to sway insurers to extend coverage, violating patient privacy. The events involving the former New Jersey rep have already generated interest from the New Jersey Attorney General, who has formed a task force to probe the numerous ways that pharma and docs interact. Now, the attorney who represents both former Amgen sales reps says that Chuck Grassley, the pha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1154083 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:04:24 +0100 1154083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1143436&cid=t_151764_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Famgen-reps-instructed-to-poach-medical.html I very much hope the following accusations prove to be inaccurate or exaggerated. If not, what is described here is almost unbelievable.After all the efforts by many different communities to promote the need for medical records privacy, security and confidentiality; with the penalties specified in HIPAA (albeit still rarely enforced); and with the increasingly common instances in the news of medical information misappropriation or stealing, one would think the pharma industry would be ultra sensitive to such matters.This is not to mention that the drug in question, Enbrel, is anything but innocuous, compared to simpler remedies. This medicine interferes with the immune system, an immensely complex system whose pathways and regulatory mechanisms are not entirely understood, to say the least... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1143436 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:24:00 +0100 1143436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1142703&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F214574221%2F We apologize for the interruption in service. We are under the weather today and struggling to stay awake long enough to keep on top of things. We will not bore you with details, but we are grateful for the chance to nap. Nonetheless, we will regroup and soldier on this afternoon. So far, we have noticed these…. FDA Extends Review For Wyeth, Progrenix Constipation Drug (Yahoo/AP) Amgen’s Enbrel Eased Alzheimer’s In One Patient (Bloomberg News) Novartis To Close Japan Research Center (Bloomberg News) Hopes For Novartis’ Galvus Fading Fast (The Guardian) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1142703 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:41:12 +0100 1142703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1128854&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F210702451%2F Last month, we wrote that a former Amgen sales rep in New Jersey sued the biotech for $10 million, claiming she was fired in retaliation for not complying with an improper marketing campaign for its Enbrel med. The case has since attracted interest from the New Jersey Attorney General, according to the attorney for Elena Ferrante. A spokesman for the NJ AG declined to comment, without denying or confirming any conversations have taken place. Now, another former Amgen sales rep has come forward and he paints a picture of a still broader effort to goose Enbrel sales at a time of increasing competition. The directives to sales reps included pulling patient files from doctors’ offices, letter-writing campaigns to patients and insurers, and orchestrating and attending patient outreach sem... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1128854 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:00:29 +0100 1128854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1057472&cid=t_151764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F191868774%2F A former Amgen sales rep is suing the biotech for $10 million before an arbitrator, claiming she was fired in retaliation for not complying with an aggressive and unethical marketing strategy for its Enbrel rheumatoid arthritis med, The Record reports. Elena Ferrante, 49, alleges Amgen sales managers encouraged reps to promote off-label and encouraged docs to prescribe Enbrel to patients who may not have needed the drug, according to Ferrante’s lawyer, Lydia Cotz. When Ferrante refused to cooperate, Cotz says her client was fired, ostensibly for other reasons including not attending client dinners and bringing a dog to a client’s office. Ferrante was a top seller who made about $400,000 a year in sales at the time she was fired, according to Cotz. Ferrante was fired from Amgen ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1057472 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:36:27 +0100 1057472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=959070&cid=t_151764_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-psoriasis%2Fchrista%2Fpsoriasis-does-it-itch%2F I spent years listening to my mother argue with various doctors when she asked them to give me something to ease the itching. “Psoriasis does not itch,” one rather pompous medic said. I must have been about 13 years old at this stage, and I looked him straight in the eye and asked, “Doctor, do you have psoriasis?” He told me he did not. Maintaining eye contact, I asked him how on earth he, who did not have psoriasis, could tell me (who does have it) that psoriasis does not itch? He, of course, could not answer. Psoriasis does itch. It itches like nothing else. My husband has woken me in the night because I am scratching. I have woken to find myself, legs in the air raking at my skin until it bleeds, still unable to stop the itching. It seems the more I scratch, the more it itches.... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=959070 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:17:12 +0100 959070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=947520&cid=t_151764_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-psoriasis%2Fchrista%2Fshaving-and-psoriasis-a-hairy-little-problem%2F We all have body hair. It covers almost every inch of our skin and for the most part is largely unnoticeable, but fashions and societal opinion dictates that it is “nicer” if women in particular manage certain areas where body hair may be apparent, namely armpits, legs and bikini area. This can pose a dilemma for any woman; what method is best for ridding yourself of unwanted hair? Shaving has always been the number one option, with depilatory creams and waxing running alongside, with a few less common methods running along behind these three. But what if you have psoriatic lesions on your legs? What do you do then? Modern day creams are gentler on the skin than their earlier counterparts and they are easier to manage and far less messy than they used to be, but they tend to ir... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=947520 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:44:23 +0100 947520