Idea #128 for June 26th, 2009: Dangerous “Liaisons” or Drug Companies and Medical Science Liaisons

According to FDA rules, drug companies are not allowed to promote off-label uses for their products. So to get around that legal roadblock, they’ve been using “medical science liaisons” to do that work instead. Because they’re not technically sales staff, medical liaisons can visit doctors on drug companies’ behalves and fill them in on off-label, unapproved uses for the drugs. At the same time that drug companies are shedding sales staff, they are hiring more and more medical science liaisons; the number grew by 48% between 2003 and 2008.

Industry groups contend that the liaisons’ role is one of educating providers and not sales. Unlike sales reps, liaisons are not given incentives for driving up sales, according to drug companies. But it’s hard to see this as anything other than an attempt to exploit a loophole in the law that prevents drug companies from promoting off-label uses. The rule, keep in mind, is in place for a reason: to protect patients from the influence that drug companies may have over providers. Until the loophole is closed, there is still a greater risk that drug companies are affecting the way providers are prescribing drugs.

Read more about the issue in the Wall Street Journal.