Business, Science Clash at Medical Journal

The Washington Post ^ | February 7, 2004 | Shankar Vedantam

[neverdem]

Business, Science Clash at Medical Journal

An analysis critical of the growing use of an expensive medicine used for dialysis patients was turned down by the most widely circulated medical journal in the field after its marketing department objected, according to an e-mail from the journal's editor to the article's author.

Three senior scientists had reviewed the analysis and approved it for publication, Joseph Herman, executive editor of Dialysis & Transplantation, wrote to author Dennis Cotter, president of a nonprofit health research group in Bethesda.

"Unfortunately, I have been overruled by our marketing department with regard to publishing the editorial," Herman added. "As you accurately surmised, the publication of your editorial would, in fact, not be accepted in some quarters . . . and apparently went beyond what our marketing department is willing to accommodate."

[neverdem]

This article could have used a little more information. This expensive medicine is Amgen's version of a hormone made in the kidneys called eryrthropoetin. This hormone stimulates the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. In order to treat the chronic anemia that invariably happens to these patients with failed kidneys, they are given this hormone. Doing this also reduces the amount of red blood cell transfusions these patients sometimes need. It was thought that if the patients were given more of this hormone, then more patients would be healthier and more would survive longer. When they did the study they found that patients who received more Epogen had less survival, i.e. more mortality.

[neverdem]

PING

[A. Pole]

When they did the study they found that patients who received more Epogen had less survival, i.e. more mortality.

We should not tolerate publications which can lower well deserved profits. Same with cheap medications from Canada. Production of generics should be forbidden.

[farmfriend]

Short list.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!