Medical schools and drug companies too cozy

By Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Last update: August 18, 2009 - 3:19 PM

"Is Low T making you a shadow of your former self?" asks the website.

From the looks of the slump-shouldered men on the page, you could hardly conclude anything else. These guys need some love -- and a jar of synthetic testosterone called AndroGel might just be their ticket.

The website was developed by Solvay Pharmaceuticals as part of an aggressive marketing campaign for the drug that also included a series of medical journal articles touting the benefits of testosterone. Those articles were sponsored by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Solvay paid about $1 million over a three-year period to fund them.

Doctors could read the articles and receive credit for continuing medical education -- and, Solvay hoped, write more prescriptions for AndroGel. UW received about $115,000 directly, according to a report by the Journal Sentinel's John Fauber, who uncovered the UW connection.

The problem? There is a lack of scientific evidence that men over the age of 45 benefit from taking testosterone. In fact, there are concerns that it might increase the risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The UW connection with Solvay is the latest example of the cozy relationships that have blossomed between medical schools and pharmaceutical companies. It's time for a divorce: Industry funding of continuing medical education should be phased out to avoid conflicts, and Congress should require full disclosure of all industry payments for continuing medical education.

The University of Wisconsin's good name has been tarnished by this money-grubbing enabling of a drug company's marketing campaign. In recent months, the school has taken steps to establish tougher conflict-of-interest rules. But UW hasn't moved to limit continuing medical education payments from industry, which may be an even larger risk to its reputation.

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