Elsevier says Australia unit failed to disclose pharmaceutical ties to medical journals
By APFriday, May 8, 2009
Elsevier unit failed to disclose journal sponsors
NEW YORK — Publisher Elsevier (EL-seh-VEER) says an Australian unit contracted with drugmakers several years ago to publish what appeared to be medical journals that didn’t disclose who had paid for them.
Those publications included one that heavily favored drugmaker Merck’s osteoporosis drug Fosamax and the painkiller Vioxx.
The journal was in fact sponsored by drugmaker Merck, though the Elesvier unit never properly disclosed the sponsorship.
Elsevier publishes medical and scientific journals, including the Lancet.
Merck and Elsevier say the practices have ended and that they favor disclosure of financial ties. Elsevier wouldn’t say which other drugmakers sponsored journals.
YOUR VIEW POINT
