Silicone Implant Research Funding - from evidence files

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BMS000070657

PLASTIC SURGERY

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

October 2, 1992

Ms. Francine Gingras

Bristol-Meyers Squibb

345 Park Avenue 21st floor

New York, NY 10154

Re: Silicone Implant Research Funding

Dear Ms. Gingras,

First, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate

you on your tremendous efforts in your considerations

for additional funding for research by Plastic

Surgeons.

As you know, Plastic Surgery has already funded

$500,000 through the Plastic Surgery Educational

Foundation and the Silicone Implant Research Committee

(Hollis Caffee, M.D.). Three epidemiologic studies are

funded approximately 90% and are under way.

In an effort to increase this effort, Dow and McGhan

have offered to match additional funding by Plastic

Surgery, up to $500,000, along with significant

contributions from Mentor Corporation. Although

Bioplasty is unable to participate at this time,

Bristol Meyers and Baxter are strongly considering

similar matching efforts.

At our recent annual meeting in Washington, D. C. the

last week of September, in cooperation with the

American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the

Educational Foundation has agreed to fund a total of

$510,000, over and above the original $500,000 from

the breast implant committee. Therefore, this goes

$10,000 over the fantastic original offer by Dow and

McGhan. With the Aesthetic Society, the Educational

Foundation will conjointly fund $170,000 for a three

year period of time to underwrite research on silicone

(silicone breast implants, saline implants, silicone

joints for arthroulasties, chin implants, etc. etc.).

The Board of Directors of the Educational Foundation

and the Board of Directors of the Aesthetic Society

are confident that both short term and long term

answers will be garnered in a scientific and ethical

manner so that this problem can finally be laid to

rest. Additional epidemiologic studies are needed

along with immunologic and laboratory research.

Letters of intent have already been received by the

Silicone Implant Research Committee concerning the

saline implant issue.

This letter is to inform you of Plastic Surgerys'

strong commitment to finding the truth and to continue

research in science.

The nitty-gritty remains. Would it be easier for you

to send a check for $500,000 to the Educational

Foundation or would you prefer to divide this into

three annual payments?

Obviously, the Silicone Implant Research Committee

will keep you

informed as to the activities and where-abouts and use

of these funds, and we all are extremely grateful to

your leadership and commitment to this project.

With your permission, I feel it will be extremely

important and

noteworthy to publicize your contribution and

commitment to these

projects in our Plastic Surgery News and other

periodicals.

However, I will await your approval for this.

Again, many, many thanks for your continued support

and I look forward to hearing from you in the not to

distant future. If it is appropriate, I feel that a

fourth summit meeting in approximately four or five

months, probably in Chicago, might be in order to keep

everyone informed as to our progress.

Sincerely,

Malcolm A. Lesavoy, M.D.

Immediate Past President

Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation

MAL:ar

cc: Fritz Barton, M.D., President PSEF

Hollis Caffee, M.D., Chairman Silicon Implant Research

Committee

Jack C. flsher, M.D., Secretary PSEF

Luce, M.D., President Elect PSEF

Jim Hoehn, M.D., President ASPRS

Mr. Dave Fellers, CAE, Executive Director

Ms. Carolyn Amengual, Deputy Executive Director

Mr. Bob Wulff, Director of Development

Graham III, M.D., President American Society

of Aesthetic

Plastic Surgery