The Promotion of Gabapentin
Authors: Eric D. Peterson, Kurt Boyce, Karen Overstreet
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2007)

Letters20 February 2007The Promotion of GabapentinEric D. Peterson, EdM, Kurt Boyce, and Karen Overstreet, EdDEric D. Peterson, EdMFrom North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies, Birmingham, Alabama.Search for more papers by this author, Kurt BoyceFrom North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies, Birmingham, Alabama.Search for more papers by this author, and Karen Overstreet, EdDFrom North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies, Birmingham, Alabama.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-146-4-200702200-00017 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR: Steinman and colleagues (1) offered a purportedly “unique window for understanding the structure and methods of pharmaceutical promotion,” concluding that “[n]ew strategies are needed to ensure a clear separation between scientific and commercial activity.” The authors explored the well-documented abuses related to the off-label marketing of gabapentin. Unfortunately, they seem to imply that these actions are representative of current practice. Worse, the authors call for various reforms but seem unaware that many such reforms have already taken place. They state only that “a complex system has evolved” that has been “largely ineffective,” a claim that cannot be ...References1. Steinman MA, Bero LA, Chren MM, Landefeld CS. Narrative review: the promotion of gabapentin: an analysis of internal industry documents. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145:284-93. [PMID: 16908919] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. Washington, DC: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; revised January 2004. Accessed at www.phrma.org/files/PhRMA%20Code.pdf on 21 August 2006. Google Scholar3. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. OIG compliance program guidance for pharmaceutical manufacturers. FR Doc. 03-10934. Fed Regist. 2003;68:23731-43. Google Scholar4. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Standards for commercial support: standards to ensure the independence of CME activities. Chicago: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education; September 2004. Accessed at www.accme.org/dir_docs/doc_upload/68b2902a-fb73-44d1-8725-80a1504e520c_uploaddocument.pdf on 22 August 2006. Google Scholar5. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals: writing and editing for biomedical publication. Updated February 2006. Accessed at www.icmje.org on 22 August 2006. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Eric D. Peterson, EdM; Kurt Boyce; Karen Overstreet, EdDAffiliations: From North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies, Birmingham, Alabama.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoNarrative Review: The Promotion of Gabapentin: An Analysis of Internal Industry Documents Michael A. Steinman , Lisa A. Bero , Mary-Margaret Chren , and C. Seth Landefeld The Promotion of Gabapentin Benjamin L. Sapers The Promotion of Gabapentin Michael A. Steinman , Mary-Margaret Chren , C. Seth Landefeld , and Lisa A. Bero The Promotion of Gabapentin Thomas E. Finucane Metrics 20 February 2007Volume 146, Issue 4Page: 313KeywordsComplex systemsConflicts of interestDrug research and developmentHealth careMedical communicationsMedical education ePublished: 20 February 2007 Issue Published: 20 February 2007 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...