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Seems Gilead may be in trouble over off-label marketing of its HIV drugs. The practice of prescribing drugs for off-label use is legal but the marketing of drugs to doctors for off-label use is prohibited.

MercuryNews.com | 12/07/2006 | Gilead gets subpoena over HIV drug marketing:

Recently Intermune agreed to pay $36.9 million to settle charges related to off-label marketing efforts related to its drug Actimmune. It is reported they were touting its use in a fatal lung disorder and it is only approved for treatment of a bone disorder. Scios a division of Johnson & Johnson is also under investigation related to their drug Natrecor.

I know some folks who think that it should be illegal to prescribe drugs for off-label use. I tend to think the present system works but there is a need to make sure drug companies aren’t pushing the limits in terms of what their rugs can be used for. I don’t want to take away the ability of doctors to prescribe what they deem best for their patients and this is particularly true in the area of oncology.

One line of defense that needs to be worked on is doctors reporting of improper marketing efforts by companies. I have a suspicion that it occurs more often than many think and that it is just ignored by doctors instead of being brought to light. I know this comes up on occasions and is talked about in corporate meeting rooms but only behind closed doors and usually in the content of how far can we push this without getting caught. This problem is one of those “dirty little secrets” that exists and needs to be dealt with.

Other Resources

Drug Injury Watch: Off-label Use / Prescribing

Off-Label Imbroglio Latest Concern for Drugmakers

Genentech gets subpoena regarding drug marketing | The San Diego Union-Tribune
When Doctors Go Off-Label - Forbes.com

Technorati Tags: Gilead, off label use

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