Doctor accuses drugs giant of 'unethical' secrecy

[emad]

Jo Revill, health editor
Sunday December 4, 2005
The Observer


Britain's leading medicines watchdog is to investigate claims made by a senior doctor of 'unethical behaviour' by a major pharmaceutical company over a study of a disease that affects millions of women.

A series of emails and taped telephone conversations passed to The Observer reveal that a highly respected academic in the field of osteoporosis has questioned Procter and Gamble's decision to publish drug research in his name even though he had not been given full access to the data it was based on. The report was written by a 'ghost writer' paid for by P&G before being given to the academic to agree.

The claims made by Dr Aubrey Blumsohn, senior lecturer and bone metabolism specialist at Sheffield University, are to be looked at by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority.

The issue will also be debated by MPs this week when the Commons meets to discuss whether the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry should be strengthened.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1657302,00.html