The Promotion of Gabapentin
Authors: Michael A. Steinman, Mary-Margaret Chren, C. Seth Landefeld, Lisa A. Bero
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2007)

Letters20 February 2007The Promotion of GabapentinMichael A. Steinman, MD, Mary-Margaret Chren, MD, C. Seth Landefeld, MD, and Lisa A. Bero, PhDMichael A. Steinman, MDFrom San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.Search for more papers by this author, Mary-Margaret Chren, MDFrom San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.Search for more papers by this author, C. Seth Landefeld, MDFrom San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.Search for more papers by this author, and Lisa A. Bero, PhDFrom San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-146-4-200702200-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE: Dr. Finucane's enumeration of the large variety of controlled clinical trials of gabapentin is consistent with the company's support of small research projects to promulgate messages about the drug in the medical literature. Although one might apply principles of evidence-based medicine to each of these studies, in practice it is difficult for physicians to critically evaluate the effectiveness of gabapentin for such a wide range of disorders.We applaud the positive steps outlined by Mr. Peterson and colleagues to reduce commercial influence on educational activities. However, we remain skeptical of the claim that the practices we identified are ...References1. Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices. Washington, DC: Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association; 1990. Google Scholar2. Gifts to physicians from industry [Editorial]. JAMA. 1991;265:501. [PMID: 1985237] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Standards for commercial support of continuing medical education. Chicago: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education; 1992. Google Scholar4. Herxheimer A, Collier J. Promotion by the British pharmaceutical industry, 1983-8: a critical analysis of self regulation. BMJ. 1990;300:307-11. [PMID: 2106963] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Steinbrook R. Commercial support and continuing medical education. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:534-5. [PMID: 15703417] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Studdert DM, Mello MM, Brennan TA. Financial conflicts of interest in physicians' relationships with the pharmaceutical industry—self-regulation in the shadow of federal prosecution. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:1891-900. [PMID: 15509824] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Michael A. Steinman, MD; Mary-Margaret Chren, MD; C. Seth Landefeld, MD; Lisa A. Bero, PhDAffiliations: From San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect those of the U.S. government or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.Disclosures: Drs. Steinman, Chren, and Landefeld were unpaid expert witnesses in the litigation on which their manuscript was based, and Drs. Steinman and Landefeld participated in the creation of an online searchable archive of documents funded by the plantiff's lawyer in that litigation. 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 Thomas E. Finucane The Promotion of Gabapentin Eric D. Peterson , Kurt Boyce , and Karen Overstreet The Promotion of Gabapentin Benjamin L. Sapers Metrics 20 February 2007Volume 146, Issue 4Page: 313-314KeywordsArchivesClinical trialsConflicts of interestDrugsEvidence based medicineForecastingMedical communicationsMedical educationMotivation ePublished: 20 February 2007 Issue Published: 20 February 2007 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...