AASLD and Pharma – Taking the High Road
By Scott L. Friedman, M.D.
I wish to offer the AASLD Governing Board’s perspective on the flurry of highly visible publications, reports, and opinion pieces illuminating the rapidly evolving climate between Professional Medical Associations (PMAs) and the Pharmaceutical Industry [1-3]. AASLD recognizes that its integrity is sacrosanct, and thus we remain on the forefront of regulations that ensure transparency and full disclosure in all our programs and other activities. Now more than ever, the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and device industries are vital partners in our mission to improve the lives of our patients, and we cannot afford to derail this partnership or jeopardize the trust of our members. Indeed, while AASLD members develop new ideas, uncover fundamental disease mechanisms, and focus attention on unmet needs, it is the commercial sector that picks up the ball to actually develop and test new agents or devices.
What was once standard operating procedure for PMAs like AASLD could be viewed through the prism of hindsight as insufficiently stringent. Fortunately, our Pharma partners now recognize the need for improved transparency. At the first Industry Forum involving Pharma and AASLD leadership that took place during last year’s Annual Meeting, there was a unanimous commitment to the recently adopted Code on Interactions with Health Professionals.
As a result, there will be very visible changes in our annual meeting – no more sponsored meeting bags, pens, or giveaways in the exhibit area, and no more free meals or other frivolous perks. Companies are considering downsizing their commercial displays and redirecting their savings towards unrestricted support for research, education and, programming. Efforts are also underway to create CME events with multiple sponsors to reduce the perceived taint of single-sponsor programming.
These and other planned changes are all very salutary and elevate the dialogue between AASLD members and Pharma to one that is focused on education and our common principle of improving health, rather than propagating an unseemly effort to influence behavior.
At the same time, we want our Pharma partners to contribute to the vigor of our society and Annual Meeting by offering their unique perspectives on new drug development and clinical trials. To enable this, we have created a Corporate Affiliate Membership category so that Pharma representatives can participate responsibly in Special Interest Group meetings and benefit from our unique educational offerings.
AASLD is already compliant with recommendations from two expert panels [1,2]. All potential conflicts of interest by the AASLD leadership and Practice Guidelines committee members are publicly disclosed, and individuals may not participate in activities or decisions where a potential conflict might arise. AASLD does not endorse products, and furthermore, any industry support for our endowment goes into a pooled, unrestricted fund for training and research.
The evolution of our relationship with Pharma is likely to reduce the overall income from our Annual Meeting, but it’s a price worth paying to ensure that we continue to take the high road in all our interactions. In doing so, we will further enhance responsible cooperation with industry that will accelerate our ability to advance the science and practice of hepatology.
References
1. Rothman DJ, McDonald WJ, Berkowitz CD, Chimonas SC, DeAngelis CD, Hale RW, Nissen SE, Osborn JE, Scully JH, Jr., Thomson GE, et al.: Professional medical associations and their relationships with industry: a proposal for controlling conflict of interest. JAMA 2009, 301:1367-1372.
2. Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice. In Committee on Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice. Edited by Lo B, Field MJ. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Presses; 2009, in press.
3. Shaywitz DA, Stossel TP: It's Time to Fight the "PharmaScolds". Wall Street Journal April 8, 2009.
This electronic newsletter is a bi-weekly publication of AASLD and replaces the former bi-monthly print newsletter and weekly e-news. Members are welcome to submit articles and may send suggestions to atracy@aasld.org