Schering-Plough Said Under Scrutiny

[Guest guest]

Note: The article referred to in this news report can

be found here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52480-2000Sep11.html

Schering-Plough Said Under Scrutiny

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will examine

whether Schering-Plough Corp. (NYSE:SGP - news)

violated any federal rules governing advertising and

promotion in its efforts to draw attention to

hepatitis C and boost sales of the drug maker's

treatment, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

``It will be reviewed,'' the newspaper quoted FDA

spokeswoman Bradbard as saying in reaction to

reports that the Madison, New Jersey-based company had

created a host of ''grass-roots'' groups to work on

issues related to hepatitis C.

Public-relations executives paid by Schering-Plough

recruited volunteers, packaged educational materials

and lobbied state legislatures to spend more on

education and treatment. The executives, who portrayed

themselves as members of the groups, also directed

people to toll-free numbers paid for by

Schering-Plough, according to the Post.

``FDA is concerned with any company whose educational

activities would cross over into promotional

activity,'' Bradbard told the paper.

It said the hepatitis C coalitions were part of an

aggressive marketing campaign for the Schering-Plough

drug Rebetron, currently the primary treatment for the

disease. A year's supply of Rebetron costs $18,000.

FDA officials said they encourage drug companies to

support educational campaigns. But they want to know

the extent of Schering-Plough's influence and control

over the coalitions' educational material and whether

the drug maker's role in creating the coalitions was

properly disclosed, the Post said.

They also will try to determine whether

Schering-Plough sidestepped any advertising and

promotion rules by calling a marketing campaign an

educational effort.

Some materials said the coalitions received

``educational grants'' from Schering-Plough,

something a company official acknowledged was

misleading. In fact, Schering-Plough's marketing arm,

not its charitable foundation, paid for the

initiatives in at least 11 states, the official told

the Post.

Schering-Plough spokesman Consalvo said the

coalitions provide balanced and helpful information.

``We don't think we're being secretive at all,'' he

told the paper. ``What this is is an education and

awareness campaign.''

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that infects some 4

million Americans. The disease can lay dormant for

years before damaging the liver. People at risk

include

intravenous drug users, people who have had numerous

unprotected sexual contacts and those who received

blood transfusions before 1992. Many people who are

infected do not know they have the virus.

Hugs,

Sheree

[Guest guest]

Note: The article referred to in this news report can

be found here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52480-2000Sep11.html

Schering-Plough Said Under Scrutiny

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will examine

whether Schering-Plough Corp. (NYSE:SGP - news)

violated any federal rules governing advertising and

promotion in its efforts to draw attention to

hepatitis C and boost sales of the drug maker's

treatment, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

``It will be reviewed,'' the newspaper quoted FDA

spokeswoman Bradbard as saying in reaction to

reports that the Madison, New Jersey-based company had

created a host of ''grass-roots'' groups to work on

issues related to hepatitis C.

Public-relations executives paid by Schering-Plough

recruited volunteers, packaged educational materials

and lobbied state legislatures to spend more on

education and treatment. The executives, who portrayed

themselves as members of the groups, also directed

people to toll-free numbers paid for by

Schering-Plough, according to the Post.

``FDA is concerned with any company whose educational

activities would cross over into promotional

activity,'' Bradbard told the paper.

It said the hepatitis C coalitions were part of an

aggressive marketing campaign for the Schering-Plough

drug Rebetron, currently the primary treatment for the

disease. A year's supply of Rebetron costs $18,000.

FDA officials said they encourage drug companies to

support educational campaigns. But they want to know

the extent of Schering-Plough's influence and control

over the coalitions' educational material and whether

the drug maker's role in creating the coalitions was

properly disclosed, the Post said.

They also will try to determine whether

Schering-Plough sidestepped any advertising and

promotion rules by calling a marketing campaign an

educational effort.

Some materials said the coalitions received

``educational grants'' from Schering-Plough,

something a company official acknowledged was

misleading. In fact, Schering-Plough's marketing arm,

not its charitable foundation, paid for the

initiatives in at least 11 states, the official told

the Post.

Schering-Plough spokesman Consalvo said the

coalitions provide balanced and helpful information.

``We don't think we're being secretive at all,'' he

told the paper. ``What this is is an education and

awareness campaign.''

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that infects some 4

million Americans. The disease can lay dormant for

years before damaging the liver. People at risk

include

intravenous drug users, people who have had numerous

unprotected sexual contacts and those who received

blood transfusions before 1992. Many people who are

infected do not know they have the virus.

Hugs,

Sheree