Fwd: Dr. Biederman Agrees to Stop Pharma-Drug Trials on Children

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ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability http://www.ahrp.org and http://ahrp.blogspot.com FYIThe year 2008 has been a year in which the pillars of Psychiatry were shownto be covertly engaged in the drug promotion business, shamelessly sellingtheir name and the prestige of their academic institutions, for cash. Theglare of public scrutiny--in particular, by Senator Charles Grassley and theSenate Finance Committee--and the threat of losing government researchgrants--has finally forced academic institutions to pay attention toviolations of conflict of interest regulations. Joseph Biederman, MD, the most influential child psychiatrist, used hisHarvard University professorial mantle, and  his position at MassachusettsGeneral Hospital (a Harvard affiliated teaching hospital) to garner millionsof dollars by lending the appearance of science to dubious pharmaceuticalcompany drug trials that he conducted on children.The Wall Street Journal reports that  on Tuesday, Massachusetts GeneralHospital announced that Dr. Biederman had "agreed to stop participating inseveral industry-funded trials" and "agreed not to participate in anyoutside activities that are paid for or sponsored by industry, such asconsulting activities or speaking engagements,"  pending the outcome of itsinquiry into potential conflicts of interest and disclosure obligations. Industry-sponsored drug experiments are designed for commercialpurposes--primarily to increase the sale of drugs by generating data tosupport their expanded use.So, the Mass General public statement indicating that  "it was concernedthat an institute that Dr. Biederman and J & J worked together to create atthe hospital was used to promote Risperdal's use in children, rather thanfor scientific or educational purposes" brings to mind the feigned "shock"of Captain Renault (Casablanca): "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gamblingis going on in here!"The WSJ reports that Harvard University Medical School is also conductingits own review of Dr. Biederman, but hasn't curtailed the doctor's role atthe school.Contact: Vera Hassner Sharavveracare212-595-8974http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123068708012744467.html THE WALL STREET JOURNALDrug Researcher Agrees to Curb RoleBy JENNIFER LEVITZ DECEMBER 30, 2008Joseph Biederman, a top researcher on the use of psychiatric drugs inchildren, agreed to stop participating in several industry-funded drugtrials and curb other activities pending the outcome of a Boston hospital'sinquiry into his potential conflicts of interest and disclosure obligations.The deal, announced Tuesday by Massachusetts General Hospital, where Dr.Biederman conducts research, followed several allegations related to hisrelationships with drug companies. Dr. Biederman has been a prominent backerof childhood use of Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal, a top-sellingantipsychotic drug.A U.S. Senate review found that Dr. Biederman had received $1.6 million inpayments from drug companies between 2000 and 2007 while reporting only afraction of that amount to Harvard University, where he is a faculty member.Separately, Massachusetts General has said it was concerned that aninstitute that Dr. Biederman and J & J worked together to create at thehospital was used to promote Risperdal's use in children, rather than forscientific or educational purposes.Dr. Biederman declined to comment but said in a letter published this monthin The Wall Street Journal that J & J's interests didn't interfere with theinstitute's work.In a statement Tuesday, J & J's Janssen unit said that in funding theinstitute from 2002 to 2004 it "followed strict guidelines to ensurescientific independence and did not direct the content or conclusions of theresearch."In its statement, Massachusetts General said Dr. Biederman would stopindustry-funded activities at the hospital until its review was completed.Hospital spokeswoman Peggy Slasman said that would mean Dr. Biederman woulddiscontinue his participation in several industry-funded clinical trialsthere. The hospital declined to describe the studies, which it said wouldcontinue under a different doctor.Dr. Biederman also agreed not to participate in "any outside activities thatare paid for or sponsored by industry, such as consulting activities orspeaking engagements," the hospital said.Peter Spivack, Dr. Biederman's attorney, said his client "understands theinstitution's desire to have a full inquiry and supports that."Harvard University Medical School is also conducting its own review of Dr.Biederman, according to David Cameron, its spokesman, but hasn't curtailedthe doctor's role at the school.The inquiries come amid scrutiny of drug-industry payments to doctors atacademic medical centers and the hospitals' oversight of those payments.Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, has accused many schools offailing to supervise researchers adequately.In a statement Tuesday, Sen. Grassley, a critic of Dr. Biederman, said,"It's positive that Massachusetts General Hospital is taking some action."Write to Jennifer Levitz at jennifer.levitzCopyright 2008 Dow Jones & Company, IFAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (C ) material the use of whichhas not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Suchmaterial is made available for educational purposes, to advanceunderstanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, andsocial justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fairuse' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C.section 107 of the US Copyright Law. This material is distributed withoutprofit. =====In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.