In a front-page story last week on August 5th, the New York Times reported that "Newly unveiled court documents show that ghostwriters paid by [Wyeth] played a major role in producing 26 scientific papers backing the use of hormone replacement therapy in women, suggesting that the level of hidden industry influence on medical literature is broader than previously known."
The articles were uncovered by lawyers suing Wyeth over the hormone therapy written about.
The articles were drafted by a medical communications firm paid by Wyeth, and were "published in 18 medical journals including The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and The International Journal of Cardiology. between 1998 and 2005." The articles did not disclose Wyeth’s role in initiating and paying for the work.
The articles "emphasized the benefits and de-emphasized the risks of taking hormones to protect against maladies like aging skin, heart disease and dementia."
The "supposed medical consensus" created by the papers is said to have helped sales of Wyeth's hormone drugs Premarin (conjugated estrogens) and Prempro (conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate) rise "to nearly $2 billion in 2001."
That "consensus fell apart in 2002 when a huge federal study on hormone therapy was stopped after researchers found that menopausal women who took certain hormones had an increased risk of invasive breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke."
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Pittman Dutton & Hellums P.C. has earned the respect of its clients and peers for prosecuting the most complex legal matters and producing results.
Chris Hellums is the managing shareholder of Pittman Dutton & Hellums, P.C.
He has handled a variety of complex litigation matters, including commercial litigation, insurance fraud and bad faith, business fraud, as well as complex products liability and medical products matters resulting in many multi-million dollar settlements and judgments.
He recently served as lead counsel in the Total Body Formula Multi District Litigation.
Chris was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He attended college at the University of Alabama and graduated with a B.A. in business in 1990. Upon graduation, he entered the University of Alabama School of Law and obtained his J.D. Degree in 1993. While in law school, he served as the student representative to the Board of Trustees.
He was admitted to practice law in the State of Alabama in 1993, and the State of Colorado in 1994.
For a FREE CASE EVALUATION, call Chris toll free at 866-515-8880 or email ChrisH@PittmanDutton.com.
He has handled a variety of complex litigation matters, including commercial litigation, insurance fraud and bad faith, business fraud, as well as complex products liability and medical products matters resulting in many multi-million dollar settlements and judgments.
He recently served as lead counsel in the Total Body Formula Multi District Litigation.
Chris was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He attended college at the University of Alabama and graduated with a B.A. in business in 1990. Upon graduation, he entered the University of Alabama School of Law and obtained his J.D. Degree in 1993. While in law school, he served as the student representative to the Board of Trustees.
He was admitted to practice law in the State of Alabama in 1993, and the State of Colorado in 1994.
For a FREE CASE EVALUATION, call Chris toll free at 866-515-8880 or email ChrisH@PittmanDutton.com.
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No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Disclaimer...
The material on this web site has been prepared by Chris Hellums. The material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The material does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Chris Hellums or any of its attorneys or clients, and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.
Transmission of the material on this site is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. This information is not intended to substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney. Each person's legal needs are unique, and these materials may not be applicable to your legal situation. No person should act or rely on any information in this site without seeking the advice of an attorney.
Chris Hellums has affiliations in particular cases with attorneys licensed to practice in different state court in the United States.
If you communicate with us through this site or otherwise in connection with a matter for which we do not already represent you, it is possible that your communication may not be treated as privileged or confidential. If you communicate with us by e-mail on a matter for which we already represent you, please remember that Internet e-mail is not secure and you should avoid sending sensitive or confidential Internet e-mail messages unless they are adequately encrypted. Nevertheless, we will respond by e-mail to your e-mail inquiry, unless you ask us to respond in some other way.
To the extent the State Bar rules require us to designate a principal office and/or single attorney responsible for this site, Pittman, Dutton & Hellums, P.C. designates Chris Hellums as the attorney responsible for this site. He is located at 2001 Park Place North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.
Please be aware that the transmission of an e-mail inquiry itself does not create an attorney-client relationship. Chris Hellums cannot serve as your counsel in any matter unless you and our firm expressly agree in writing that we serve as your attorney. You should also be aware that the Statute of Limitations (the deadline imposed by law within which you may bring a lawsuit) may severely limit the time remaining for you to file any potential claims you may have.
Chris Hellums does not offer any guarantee of case results. The cases mentioned in this site are illustrative of the array of matters our firm handles or is interested in handling. Each case must stand on its own facts and circumstances.
This web site may be considered advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide to retain us, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. Our attorneys do not wish to enter into a representation with anyone desiring representation based on viewing these materials in a state where this web site fails to comply with the laws and professional responsibility rules of the state.
Required State Specific Disclaimers:
Alabama:
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Disclaimer...
The material on this web site has been prepared by Chris Hellums. The material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The material does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Chris Hellums or any of its attorneys or clients, and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.
Transmission of the material on this site is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. This information is not intended to substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney. Each person's legal needs are unique, and these materials may not be applicable to your legal situation. No person should act or rely on any information in this site without seeking the advice of an attorney.
Chris Hellums has affiliations in particular cases with attorneys licensed to practice in different state court in the United States.
If you communicate with us through this site or otherwise in connection with a matter for which we do not already represent you, it is possible that your communication may not be treated as privileged or confidential. If you communicate with us by e-mail on a matter for which we already represent you, please remember that Internet e-mail is not secure and you should avoid sending sensitive or confidential Internet e-mail messages unless they are adequately encrypted. Nevertheless, we will respond by e-mail to your e-mail inquiry, unless you ask us to respond in some other way.
To the extent the State Bar rules require us to designate a principal office and/or single attorney responsible for this site, Pittman, Dutton & Hellums, P.C. designates Chris Hellums as the attorney responsible for this site. He is located at 2001 Park Place North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.
Please be aware that the transmission of an e-mail inquiry itself does not create an attorney-client relationship. Chris Hellums cannot serve as your counsel in any matter unless you and our firm expressly agree in writing that we serve as your attorney. You should also be aware that the Statute of Limitations (the deadline imposed by law within which you may bring a lawsuit) may severely limit the time remaining for you to file any potential claims you may have.
Chris Hellums does not offer any guarantee of case results. The cases mentioned in this site are illustrative of the array of matters our firm handles or is interested in handling. Each case must stand on its own facts and circumstances.
This web site may be considered advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide to retain us, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. Our attorneys do not wish to enter into a representation with anyone desiring representation based on viewing these materials in a state where this web site fails to comply with the laws and professional responsibility rules of the state.
Required State Specific Disclaimers:
Alabama:
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.