Consumerist

Former Amgen Sales Reps Say They Were Encouraged To Illegally Access Patient Records

Gotta get that commission... Two former sales reps for the pharmaceutical company Amgen are suing "for lost wages and other compensation after refusing to participate in improper promotion of the company's blockbuster psoriasis drug Enbrel." They claim that Amgen encouraged them to "illegally access patient records to induce insurance carriers to pay for the pricey drug," according to their attorney. Amgen promptly responded that the suits were without merit, and then handed out blister packets of popular drugs, branded desk calendars, and free t-shirts, so everything's cool.

Enbrel is a redonkulously expensive injectable drug that "has an annual cost of about $16,000 for a psoriasis patient."

"Amgen salespeople allege improper Enbrel promotion" [Reuters]

7:39 PM on Thu Jan 10 2008
By Chris Walters
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