November 30, 2006
Amgen-Funded Docs A Majority
On NKF Panel Reviewing Amgen's Drug
In the wake of a recent study showing dialysis patients fared worse from using large amounts of Amgen's anti-anemia drug Epogen (see this GoozNews), the New York Times (registration required) reports today that the National Kidney Foundation will convene a meeting of its anemia management subcommittee to consider the new evidence. A report is expected in February.
As Alex Berenson's excellent story in the business section points out:
Some scientists complain that Amgen has until now had too much influence on the creation of the foundation’s guidelines. The most recent version of the anemia guidelines, released earlier this year, encourages more aggressive treatment than the Food and Drug Administration recommends.“The guidelines are funded through the National Kidney Foundation by industry, by and large,” said Dr. Daniel Coyne, professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. “They write guidelines that are opinion-based, by and large, and favor industry or would appear to favor industry.”
While Amgen sponsors the creation of the guidelines and donated $4 million to the foundation last year, both the foundation and the company say that the company does not control which doctors are chosen for the panel or influence their choice of treatment.
Fact: 10 of the 18 physicians currently listed on the anemia management subcommittee of the NKF that will consider the question have financial ties to Amgen, either in the form of research support or grants or through serving on its speakers committee.
Posted by gooznews at November 30, 2006 12:11 PM"Fact: 10 of the 18 physicians currently listed on the anemia management subcommittee of the NKF that will consider the question have financial ties to Amgen, either in the form of research support or grants or through serving on its speakers committee."
How many experts in kidney disease anemia management, with no ties to Amgen, were left off the subcommittee? (I’m thinking none). You shouldn’t just look at the downside risk. A higher EPO induced hemoglobin feels much better. The increase in stroke risk needs to be understood against the benefit of having more energy.
Rather than questioning the ethics of physicians for being experts, why not ask the question people on dialysis ask: “Is it worth avoiding an increased stroke risk if I don’t have the energy to live the life I was meant to live?”