Here’s how falsified research led to the rise and eventual fall of prominent heart researcher Dr. Piero Anversa. Previously employed at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Anversa reportedly rose to prominence with research built on fabricated data that persisted for years despite contrary evidence. (New York Times)
A Utah insurer is paying for flights to San Diego and transportation to Tijuana, Mexico, for patients who need drugs that are cheaper across the border. Members who choose to participate in its “pharmacy tourism” option receive a $500 cash reward. “That money is pretty small in comparison to the difference between U.S. prices and Mexico prices,” said Travis Tolley, the insurer’s clinical operations director. (Salt Lake Tribune)
A database of more than 18,000 retracted scientific papers has been posted online. It goes as far back as the 1970s and allows users to search for withdrawn papers by author, country, and journal, among other metrics. (Vox)
Marketing agency holding company MDC Partners reported a net loss of $18.2 million in Q3, a plummet from the $14.1 million profit it saw in the same period of last year. An asset impairment charge accounted for much of the loss, the company said. (MM&M)
Here’s one reason that PhRMA might be worried about the Democrats taking back the House of Representatives. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reportedly visited the lobbying group’s office this summer, where she threatened to use a little-known federal statute to strip companies of exclusive drug licenses. A Democratic House could also pressure manufacturers by allowing Medicare to negotiate over prices. (STAT)
