A lot of people hitting Howard Dean on ties to biologics

[ProSense]

How Drug-Industry Lobbyists Got Their Way on Health Care

<...>

That makes the politics — and the lines of political influence — a lot more difficult to sort out. Whereas the traditional pharmaceutical industry is concentrated in just a couple of states, biotech firms have sprung up just about anywhere you find a university with a research hospital, which gives them a broad political base. "I know that vote hurt me at home," says Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, who led the unsuccessful fight against the 12-year exclusivity in the Senate HELP Committee.

Indeed, the biologics lobby has become one of K Street's most powerful players. Working largely through BIO and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), it has funded an extensive network that includes not only lobbyists but also think-tank experts and advocacy groups. "You can't get on the phone with someone who isn't getting paid," says an economist who has studied the biologics issue with funding from a drug company. "They give money to everyone and anyone."

That means it can be hard to find a truly independent viewpoint, though it often requires deep digging into the finances of advocacy groups to discover their ties. In July, one calling itself the National Health Council wrote letters to members of Congress "on behalf of 133 million Americans" asking for a minimum of 10 years of data exclusivity. The group boasts a membership that includes 50 of the nation's largest patient-advocacy groups, including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals and the National Kidney Foundation. But its board of directors reads like a Who's Who of top pharmaceutical executives from Amgen, Pfizer, Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb. Its 2007 tax filings show that almost half its $2.3 million budget came from PhRMA and drug companies.

Similarly, on Oct. 19, PhRMA put out a statement calling for a "fair period of data protection" of 12 years at a "bare minimum." To defend its position, the group cited Duke University economist Henry Grabowski, whose work it has funded, and two patient groups. One, called RetireSafe, receives regular infusions of "general operating support" from Pfizer and operates out of a small Washington law-firm office. It has been blitzing Capitol Hill with letters arguing that guaranteeing biologics makers fewer than 12 years of exclusivity in the use of their data could cost lives. The other group, the Alliance of Aging Research, is also run by the drug industry. Its chairman is the managing partner of Foxkiser, a drug-company consultant, and its vice chairman is with Novartis.

Among the biologics industry's most high-profile advocates has been former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, who is consulting for a law firm that has a deep roster of biologics clients. In July he wrote an Op-Ed in the Hill newspaper arguing for a "commonsense and fair approach" to give biologics companies at least 12 years of exclusivity. ("I wouldn't do this if I didn't believe it," Dean, a physician, said in an interview.) His former campaign manager Joe Trippi echoed Dean's views on a Huffington Post blog without disclosing that he had been paid by BIO to create two Web campaigns. (He also says his views predated his paycheck.)

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Imagine if he had been appointed to a spot in the WH.

[DJ13]

1. Imagine if he had been appointed to a spot in the WH.

Why he might be as corrupt as Larry Summers!

Nah, not in a million years.

[Enrique]

2. why does someone like Dean get their money that way?

he's a freaking doctor, why doesn't he get his income from practicing medicine?

[ProSense]

5. "he's a freaking doctor" and a politician. n/t

[Enrique]

6. but he is a politician with a lot of credibility on health issues

why not stay 100% clean, not take money from any corporate interests at all? Then there is absolutely no question about what he's doing. And unlike many politicians, Dean has a profession he can practice to get income.

[ProSense]

7. Maybe he doesn't believe his work compromises his credibility. n/t

[Enrique]

8. why wouldn't he think that?

why wouldn't he realize how being paid by an industry calls into question what you say about that industry?

[ProSense]

12. Because a lot of people still believe Bill Clinton has credibility? n/t

[cali]

32. He hasn't practiced medicine in 20 years. It's not just something

you can leave for that period of time and pick right up. Also, his interest is politics. Oh, and Dean lives a very modest life. No big fancy house of flashy cars or second homes.

[karynnj]

33. He has been a practicing doctor for years I assume that it because he believes it the potential

of biologics. Then, the combination of his medical training and experience, his inside knowledge of how government works and his political career, especially the last 5 or 6 years as an activist and advocate for things he believes him makes him a very good advocate for somenthing as complex as this.

This is similar to today's front page NYT article that speaks of Gore having invested in many high potential companies looking to create green technology. This is not a conflict of interest is is working to advance things you think are good.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Curiously, there is the slightest possibility that..

reasonable people might actually think that even the pharmaceutical industry has its uses and should be able to make a buck here and there.

Dean and others being bribed to shamelessly sell out and shill for thieving bastards, or Dean and others accepting a paycheck for promoting what they already believe?

[madfloridian]

14. Do not bother trying to be reasonable.

There is no room for that apparently. I notice there is no one blaming the failed leadership of Obama on the health care issue. There appears to be no one blaming Congress, who actually made the bill.

But stick a fork in Dean, he is done here at DU.

And it is most often the single payer advocates using him for a pin cushion, though he supported that also.

[joeycola]

24. oh come now MF....

I and others have placed plenty of blame on the WH and the leaders of congress for failed leadership on the health "reform". Where you been? Dean, like so many other Democrats were weak-simple as that.


Dean joined the bio company-he can sleep in his bed now.

[madfloridian]

25. Gotcha.

Be perfect or be gone.

[joeycola]

31. No, I did not say that. I am disappointed

with Dean accepting the new job though.

[vaberella]

4. I don't care who's doing what with whom as long as we get some changes in healh care. n/t

[quantass]

9. If Dean can be easily bought then we have serious issues in America nt

[AspenRose]

10. It's disappointing

[kjackson227]

11. Dang, we're in bad shape if Howard Dean is soiled :(

[madfloridian]

15. So you are assuming he is?

That's alarming, really.

Have you done research to show that he is "soiled"?

[Jennicut]

13. I use a biologic drug everyday: insulin.

The manufacturing process for these type of drugs is harder and one simple thing can make the biologic drug go awry. Therefore it is more expensive to make these drugs and the companies that make them want to recoup the costs by not having competition. I am torn. I want my insulin to be made the right way and am torn by "generics". I need the insulin to work correctly or my blood sugar could go up and that can make me very sick. The manufacturing process is so delicate. On the other hand, I hate the greedy bastards that make my insulin. It is not a cut and dry issue.

[boppers]

16. 12 years is nothing.

Copyright is lifetime of the author, plus 70 years.

12 is a much more reasonable number, to balance out investment costs, trial costs, and determine liability and reliability.

[blaze]

21. But it doesn't stop at 12 years

There is an "evergreening" clause in the health bill that would allow the pharms to continue their monopoly by making slight changes (like creating a once-a-day dose where the original product was three times per day)

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/house-health-care-bill-a-death-sentence-for-my-fellow-breast-cancer-survivors/

[boppers]

27. Evergreening is already part of the industry, sadly.

FTC recommendation back in 2002 was to allow a single extension per product... it not like this is being "created" by Dean, or even the health bill. This is an old issue, and people are pointing fingers because, well, that's what they do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreening

[Cha]

17. Ties or not..Dean thinks the House bill is a" very good start".

<snip>

"Dean's reaction to the House bill was, "It's not the best we can do, but it's a very good start."

http://rawstory.com/2009/10/dean-house-health-bill/

Oh, and Dean isn't whining about "the failed leadership" of President Obama. He's knows better.

[ProSense]

19. He actually likes both bills, and he's right. n/t

[Cha]

22. I know he's right and I'm so glad

we have him supporting the admin in what they're trying to accomplish. I've liked Dean for a long time and he's never disappointed me.

Dean is a Team player and never sits around and whines..he's inspiring like Kerry and Obama.

[madfloridian]

26. Then why were you so angry with me last night when I was saying the same thing?

I am very confused.

[Cha]

28. I wasn't angry and it does get very confusing

around here..but, this much I know, I support President Obama, Biden, Kerry, Hillary, Dean, and any other Dem who is trying their best for their country.

They are up against world of negative money and power and they need all the help they can get.

[janx]

18. I'm confused.

I read the entire article and could find no information about "a lot of people hitting Howard Dean on ties to biologics" . . . :shrug: ??

[ProSense]

20. That was an observation based on comments I've read and this

For more information about Howard Dean, his views on biogenerics, and his relationship with the brand-name biologics industry, see the fabulous blog posts by James Love on Huffington post this past July:

Howard Dean: Now a Shill for BIO:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/howard-dean—-now-a-shil_b_241465.html

Howard Dean claims he “is not a shill for BIO.” Then stop acting like one:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/howard-dean-claims-actual_b_243038.html

Mr. Love also blogged about how Dr. Dean’s former campaign manager Joe Trippi wrote a piece on biogenerics on HuffPo while not disclosing he had been paid by industry to work on the issue: Joe Trippi Admits He Works for BIO, While He Plugs BIO Bill in HuffPo http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/joe-trippi-admits-he-work_b_238289.htmlv

link

[janx]

23. James Love is entitled to his opinion.

But you know what they say about opinions....;-)

In any case, I'm not convinced that Dean's involvement with biotech makes him a shill.

[brentspeak]

29. Who are these "lots of people" hitting Dean on this?

Is that like when Fox News claims that "some people say..."? No facts needed?

[Canuckistanian]

30. Some say it's a scandal n/t