PhRMA Statement on AAMC Task Force Report

Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2008) — Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Senior Vice President Ken Johnson issued the following statement regarding a report by the AAMC Task Force on Industry Funding of Medical Education:

“We look forward to thoroughly reviewing the task force report issued by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). PhRMA and its member companies greatly value their interactions with academic medical centers.

“We are pleased that the task force recognizes the importance of pharmaceutical research company and academic medical center relationships to bringing medical advances to patients.

“America’s pharmaceutical research companies are committed to advancing the science of medicine and helping patients in need. Pharmaceutical researchers work tirelessly to better understand the biology of disease and translate this knowledge into the development of new life-saving and life-enhancing medicines – medicines that provide hope to millions of patients around the world. Academic medical centers are vital partners in this enterprise.

“Just as the process of drug development is incredibly complicated, the resulting medicines and their proper use are similarly complex. Effective, responsible marketing by pharmaceutical research companies plays a critical role in fostering the appropriate use of medicines. We recognize there may be ways to enhance the educational value of company interactions with medical center faculty, residents and students and look forward to discussing with AAMC the report’s recommendations and their impact on effective communications.

“Providing physicians – and medical students – with timely, accurate information about the medicines they prescribe clearly benefits patients and advances healthcare throughout the United States. Meetings with technically-trained pharmaceutical research company representatives – some of whom are healthcare professionals themselves – help inform physicians about a wide range of topics related to prescription medicines, such as new treatment options, appropriate dosing, emerging safety developments and potential interactions with other drugs.

“And importantly, pharmaceutical research companies are careful to ensure that their relationships with both healthcare professionals and students are ethical and appropriate.

“Existing federal law is very clear: pharmaceutical research companies must make sure that information they convey to physicians is accurate and consistent with pharmaceutical product labeling approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These activities are monitored by FDA, which turns any evidence of impropriety over to the Department of Justice for investigation. What’s more, the companies and their representatives must not give physicians anything of value to induce or in exchange for prescriptions written by the doctors. Pharmaceutical research companies must comply with strict anti-kickback laws and other criminal and civil provisions enforced by the Justice Department.

“In addition, pharmaceutical companies have adopted self-imposed guidelines on marketing activities. PhRMA’s Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals provides guidance on how sales personnel can and should maintain ethical relationships in their discussions with healthcare professionals. The PhRMA Code says all forms of entertainment are inappropriate. The guidelines also say that only modest meals should be allowed and any items provided should be primarily for the benefit of patients and should not exceed $100 in value.

“In the end, interactions between pharmaceutical sales representatives and healthcare professionals, including those who work and train in academic medical centers, enhance public health and improve patient care. Pharmaceutical research companies take this responsibility seriously and remain committed to ensuring that these interactions follow the highest ethical standards.”

---

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $44.5 billion in 2007 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $58.8 billion in 2007.

PhRMA Internet Address: www.phrma.org

For information on stories of hope and survival, visit: http://sharingmiracles.com/

PhRMA en Español: www.nuestraphrma.org

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: www.innovation.org

For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: www.pparx.org

For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: www.buysafedrugs.info