Opinion ID: 2968817
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: switch study

Text: In 2004, Alpharma considered engaging Dr. Michael S. Kaplan, who operated multiple pain clinics in Maryland, to conduct a study to assess the efficacy and pharmacoeconomic (cost-saving) impact of switching patients from other pain medications to Kadian (hereinafter, the “Switch Study”). J.A. 1945. Parks denies in an affidavit having any role in hiring Dr. Kaplan to perform the study, id. at 1945-46, and divulges that she found Dr. Kaplan to be “inappropriate on a personal level,” id. at 387. Nevertheless, Parks worked regularly with Dr. Kaplan, and he prescribed the most Kadian in Parks’s sales territory. J.A. 377-78. Indeed, in an e-mail to Dr. Joe Stauffer, Alpharma’s Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, Parks wrote that she would be “dead” if Dr. Kaplan “g[o]t angry and stop[ped] writing [prescriptions] for Kadian. Id. at 956. And in a May 12, 2004 email, Parks sent Dr. Kaplan’s curriculum vitae to Dr. Mike Royal, Medical Director and Vice-President of Alpharma Strategic Brand Development, listing several reasons why Dr. Kaplan would be the best person to perform the Switch Study. She concluded, “[h]e is very excited about doing the ‘switch’ study and wants to start ASAP.” Id. at 946. She also 5 told Dr. Royal that Dr. Kaplan is truly a doctor we want to keep in our camp, id. at 945-46, and admitted that “it would be impossible for [her], as a sales rep, to replace that sales volume,” id. at 393. She agreed that she “wanted to get Kaplan going on the study so it wouldn’t adversely affect [her] ability to achieve or exceed [her] quota[.]” Id. at 798. Alpharma ultimately hired Dr. Kaplan to conduct the Switch Study.