OT:Stanford Researcher, Accused of Conflicts, Steps Down as NIH Principal Invest

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August 1, 2008

Chronicle of Higher Education*

Stanford Researcher, Accused of Conflicts, Steps Down as NIH

Principal Investigator

Alan F. Schatzberg, a Stanford University researcher under fire for

a possible financial conflict of interest, is stepping down

temporarily as principal investigator on his grant from a division

of the National Institutes of Health. Notice of the decision, an

agreement between the university and the researcher, was sent

yesterday by letter and e-mail to that division, the National

Institute of Mental Health.

Dr. Schatzberg, a psychiatrist, had drawn the scrutiny of Sen.

E. Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance

Committee, who during the last year has been investigating possible

financial conflicts of interest by scientific researchers.

Senator Grassley had focused on Mr. Schatzberg's financial

connection to Corcept Therapeutics, a drug-development company that

the psychiatrist had helped create and in which he had several

millions of dollars' worth of stock. Dr. Schatzberg was leading an

NIH-financed investigation of the biology of psychotic depression.

The project included studies of the effectiveness of mifepristone —

a controversial drug that is used to induce abortions — as an

antidepressant.

Senator Grassley sent two letters of inquiry to Stanford this week.

In a letter on Thursday, he pointed out that the researcher's stock

holding " could grow dramatically if the results of Dr. Schatzberg's

government-sponsored research find that mifepristone could be used

to treat psychotic major depression. "

In its letter to the mental-health institute, the university said

that the psychiatrist " appropriately disclosed any potential

financial conflict of interest. " Further, the university said,

someone else directed research for the portion of the grant that

involved the mifepristone trials, " so that [Dr. Schatzberg] was not

involved. "

But because Dr. Schatzberg remained listed as principal investigator

of the grant, Senator Grassley has asked the university to explain

how, if the psychiatrist didn't play any role in the recruitment,

assessment, or follow-up of subjects involved in the mifepristone

trials, he could monitor the research as the NIH asks principal

investigators to do.

" Despite our belief that Stanford, NIMH, and Dr. Schatzberg have

handled this grant in accordance with the regulations and applicable

policies and with due regard for the integrity of the research, we

can see how having Dr. Schatzberg continue as the principal

investigator on the grant can create an appearance of conflict of

interest, and we want to eliminate that concern, " the letter from

Stanford reads. The university will appoint another faculty member

with no financial ties to Corcept Therapeutics as interim principal

investigator on the grant.

Senator Grassley has also asked Stanford to explain its own

financial ties with the drug-development company. The senator, who

has given Stanford until August 14 to answer his questions, says the

university had licensing agreements with Corcept for mifepristone. —

José Viñas

Posted on Friday August 1, 2008 | Permalink |

Comments

I am proud of Senator Grassley for his work.

SSRI antidepressants can cause mania and psychosis according to the

Physicians Desk Reference.

Go to www.SSRIstories.com for a list of over 2400 criminal cases

involving antidepressants that were reported by the media and where

the antidepressant is mentioned in the media article.

The full media article is available. 46 of the cases involving SSRI

antidepressants are school shootings.

— Darlene Aug 1, 11:34 PM #

Schatzberg had $6 million invested in the company that was getting a

drug approved by the FDA while taking NIH dollars to investigate

that same drug.

Does Stanford really believe that Schatzberg's $6 million

investments gives only the " appearance of conflict of interest? "

— Aug 2, 12:03 PM #