Sales reps could be effectively barred from circulating journal article reprints discussing off-label uses under FDA's draft guidance on "good reprint practices," and the agency considers the policy to be effective already, even in its draft form.

The FDA has issued draft guidance on "Good reprint practices" for distribution of journal articles involving unapproved uses of FDA-approved drugs and medical devices.

Nineteen percent of US office-based physicians refuse to see drug and device industry sales reps, according to a recent analysis conducted by healthcare marketing firm SK&A Information Services.

Vermont amended its data mining law to avoid constitutional issues that, so far, have undermined similar statutes in other states.

NitroMed announced it plans to lay off a majority of its newly hired BiDil sales force by roughly 70 to 90 employees.

The District of Columbia Council approved legislation on Jan. 8 that would require pharmaceutical sales representatives to obtain licenses to operate within city limits, The Washington Post reports.

UMass Memorial Medical Center has taken one of the most comprehensive approaches yet by a teaching hospital to limit clinician-industry interaction.

A Maine law that would have limited access by medical data companies to doctors' prescription information was reversed on constitutional grounds.

Physicians were asked to rank the companies that have the best general sales reps, specialty sales reps and medical science liaisons as part of "Specialty Reps 2007: An Influential Force," a recent Verispan survey of 4,000 physicians from across 24 specialties.

The District of Columbia could become the first jurisdiction within the country to require the licensing of pharmaceutical sales representatives, pending the outcome of a bill being voted on Tuesday in the local DC Council.