GlaxoSmithKline is under intense scrutiny regarding marketing and promotion tactics used for its popular anti-depressant drug, Paxil. Recently, the Associated Press covered a story on the company’s use of ghostwriting and an internal program that it ironically calls CASPPER.

Ghostwriting is a commonly used marketing tool to promote products or services through planted articles published by “experts.” In the instance of GSK, the company pushed salespeople to approach and assist physicians in writing and publishing articles touting their positive experiences in prescribing the drug to patients.

The articles tie doctors to the information, which worked to mislead readers and patients into believing that if a doctor says it’s great – it must be!

What readers don’t know is the pharmaceutical giant wrote many of the articles, highlighting all the positive attributes of the drug and granted it higher credibility by assigning it to a practicing physician. In the end, patients were injured as a result of GSK’s practices and misleading efforts to tout the drug.

There are lawsuits filed against the company that assert the company downplayed risks, including increased suicidal behavior and birth defects. For a patient needing help with depression, it’s necessary to share knowledge about these kinds of risks.

Perhaps even more disturbing is the company’s internal play on words for the program. Disguising a ghostwriting practice under the headline of CASPPER – is that compassion? Or do you think it shows disregard and lack of respect for patients? We do.

According to the recent AP story, articles from CASPPER appeared in five journals from 2000 to 2002. After we kicked GSK all around the courtroom, resulting in a $6.400,000.00 verdict in Cheyenne in 2001, at least it improved its warnings. Meanwhile, it was out hustling doctors to stand in for its ghostwriters.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe the ghostwriting practice in the pharmaceutical industry is misleading? Potentially damaging to your health and the health of your loved ones?

Ghostwriting practices are coming under the limelight more frequently as people have started questioning the true credibility of these articles. We’re involved in baby cases now, in which babies were damaged when their mothers took Paxil while pregnant. As our cases progress and the issue is discussed in the media, we’ll continue posting here. This is an important issue to us as we’ve seen the ill effects of these programs in our clients.