Adverstudies: pharma ad agencies producing medical "research"

Scary-as-hell story about advertising agencies who specialize in pharmaceuticals getting involved in "research," commissioning studies in support of their clients' dope and pushing editorial boards of scientific journals to adopt their conclusions.

Ad agency executives say they do nothing to distort the research process. But critics worry that science is being sacrificed for the sake of promotion. "You cannot separate their advertising and marketing from the science anymore," said Dr. Arnold S. Relman, professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School (news - web sites) and a former editor of The New England Journal of Medicine (news - web sites). "Ad agencies are not in the business of doing science."...

"We would like to help draft this manuscript," Marcia Zabusky, a vice president of Intramed, told the doctors in a conference call, according to a transcript of the conversation obtained by The New York Times, "and then submit it to you for your for your editing and for approval."

During the call, Shane Schaffer, a Novartis marketing executive, told the doctors that the company wanted "a quick, down and dirty" article. A study expected to provide scientific data showing Ritalin LA's advantages was not scheduled to start until the following day, he said, but the lack of research findings should not be an obstacle.

A reliable, anonymous tipster who works in the biz sez, "It's all true." Link Discuss (Thanks, Deep Throat!)