Ciattarelli’s Galen Publishing was paid $12.2 million to publish content that downplayed the risks of opioid abuse using pharmaceutical industry-funded grants.
NJ.com Found That Ciattarelli’s Galen Publishing Published Pieces That Downplayed The Impact Of Opioids, Including Claims That Patients With Chronic Pain Without A History Of Substance Use Were At Low Risk Of Opioid Misuse. According to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, “Among the pieces published included a number that focused on pain management — some that appeared to downplay the dangers of opioids. In one, an author noted: ‘Misuse or diversion of pain relievers is a significant problem, especially among adolescents and young adults. Concerns about opioid dependence, addiction, or non-medical use often create barriers to effective pain management.’ But he continued: ‘The risk of opioid misuse is low among patients with chronic pain who do not have preexisting substance use disorders.’” [NJ Advance Media For NJ.com, 9/25/21]
NJ.com Found That Ciattarelli’s Galen Publishing Produced Educational Material For Major Universities Using Pharmaceutical Industry-Funded Grants. According to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, “What his company did was produce continuing education materials for major universities — much of it funded by millions in grants from some of the biggest names in the pharmaceutical industry, records show.” [NJ Advance Media For NJ.com, 9/25/21]
Purdue Pharma, A Pharmaceutical Company That Contributed To The Opioid Crisis, Was A Funder Of Ciattarelli’s Publishing Company. According to The New Jersey Globe, “More than 30 pharmaceutical companies, including Oxycodone manufacturer Purdue, were among the funders.” [New Jersey Globe, 9/27/21]
NJ.com Published An Investigate Report That Found That Ciattarelli’s Medical Publishing Company Was Paid $12.2 Million To “Publish Pharmaceutical Company-Funded Content” That Alleged “Patients With Chronic Pain Were At Low Risk Of Opioid Abuse.” According to the New Jersey Globe, “The ad is referencing an investigative report from NJ.com that found Ciattarelli’s company was paid nearly $12.2 million to publish pharmaceutical company-funded content claiming that patients with chronic pain were at low risk of opioid abuse.” [New Jersey Globe, 10/4/21]
Galen Publishing Contracted With The University Of Tennessee For Materials Under “The University Of Tennessee College Of Pharmacy Advanced Studies In Pharmacy,” And Galen Leveraged Their Connections With More Than 24 Pharmaceutical Companies To Secure Funding. According to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, “Under a contract with Galen, the University of Tennessee licensed and accredited continuing education materials produced as part of ‘The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy Advanced Studies in Pharmacy.’ According to records filed with Tennessee General Assembly’s Fiscal Review Committee, Galen secured the funding using its contacts and partnerships in the pharmaceutical industry, leveraging its connections with more than two dozen pharmaceutical companies.” [NJ Advance Media For NJ.com, 9/25/21]
From 2008 To 2017, The University Of Tennessee Retained $1.04 Million From The Grant, While Galen Publishing Was Paid More Than $12.2 Million From The Grant For The Educational Materials. According to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, “The university, which maintained editorial oversight and overall approval, was paid 8% of all grant money secured by Galen for the use of its name and accreditation on the materials. Between 2008 and 2017, when Ciattarelli sold the firm, $13.2 million in grants were awarded for the program. The university retained $1.04 million and paid Galen just over $12.2 million, according to records describing the contract. A spokeswoman for the Ciattarelli campaign said Galen had agreements with other universities that were offered the opportunity to put their name and stamp on similar publications.” [NJ Advance Media For NJ.com, 9/25/21]
The Ciattarelli Campaign Spokesperson Said The University Of Tennessee Faculty Brainstormed The Topics For The Continuing Education Content, Not Drug Manufacturers Or Galen, And Galen Submitted A Grant Application With Faculty Input. According to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, “Williams said the topics for continuing education came from University of Tennessee faculty and never from drug manufacturers. Galen, she said, then took the idea for a continuing education class, created a grant application with input from faculty and submitted it to pharmaceutical companies with interests in those areas. ‘Those companies would either agree to fund the continuing education grant or reject the grant request. If a grant was funded, university faculty responsible for the continuing education program would then prepare the content for the training or for direct publication in the journal,’ she said. ‘The content never focused on a specific drug, but instead addressed all relevant drugs.’” [NJ Advance Media For NJ.com, 9/25/21]
Georgetown University Professor Of Pharmacology And Physiology Adriane Fugh-Berman Argued That The “Arrangements Represent A Built-In Bias Because Pharmaceutical Companies Are Paying To Educate Professionals On Topics On Which They Stand To Profit.” According to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, “Other universities, including Johns Hopkins and Harvard did the same with continuing education journals in their respective fields, she said, with Galen producing the Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology and Harvard University Advanced Studies in Dentistry. While they may be common, such arrangements represent a built-in bias because pharmaceutical companies are paying to educate professionals on topics on which they stand to profit, argued Adriane Fugh-Berman, professor of pharmacology and physiology at Georgetown University. ‘It’s not education. It’s all advertising and it’s very well disguised,’ said Fugh-Berman, who heads PharmedOut, a group that monitors pharmaceutical industry marketing efforts.” [NJ Advance Media For NJ.com, 9/25/21]