Guest guest Posted September 14, 2000 Report Share Posted September 14, 2000 Schering-Plough said under US review for coalitions 09/13/00 WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will examine whether Schering-Plough Corp. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2000 Report Share Posted September 14, 2000 Schering-Plough said under US review for coalitions 09/13/00 WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will examine whether Schering-Plough Corp. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2000 Report Share Posted September 14, 2000 Schering-Plough said under US review for coalitions 09/13/00 WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will examine whether Schering-Plough Corp. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2000 Report Share Posted September 14, 2000 Schering-Plough said under US review for coalitions 09/13/00 WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will examine whether Schering-Plough Corp. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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