Please cross post!

Shocking News. How low can the drug companies go! I am sure many of us
have heard of, or corresponded with Dr. Hampshire! And this may be why we
don't
hear from her anymore! Dr. Hampshire - you are to be commended for your
integrity!

Jean
(Always for George - Always for the Rimadyl Dogs)

See:
http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh30164_200\
5-11-17_23-38-22_n17706798_newsml

QUOTE:
 Reuters.com - No Spin. No Agenda. Just the Facts. As they happen.

UPDATE 1-US senator says Wyeth targeted FDA reviewer
Thu Nov 17, 2005 06:38 PM ET
(Adds Wyeth comments IN paragraphs 6-7, 10)By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Drug maker Wyeth (WYE.N: tried to discredit a
Food and Drug Administration scientist who linked the company's withdrawn
heartworm treatment to the deaths of hundreds of dogs, a U.S. Republican senator
charged on Thursday.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said the FDA employee,
Victoria Hampshire, approached his staff "because she was scared and felt
unfairly targeted by Wyeth and her agency for simply doing her job."

Wyeth staff met with then-FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford a year ago and
alleged that Hampshire had "personal and financial conflicts of interest"
related
to her review of the heartworm drug Proheart 6, Grassley said in a Senate
floor speech.

The Iowa Republican said Wyeth "succeeded in having Dr. Hampshire removed
from reviewing its drug."

The FDA launched a criminal investigation of Hampshire but took no action and
eventually rewarded her for her work on the drug, Grassley said, adding that
agency staff had briefed his committee on the matter.

Wyeth spokesman Doug Petkus said the company became aware of an "apparent
affiliation" between Hampshire and an Internet-based veterinary pharmacy that
was
marketing one or more competitors to Proheart 6. The company asked the FDA to
review the information.

"We believe the company has always acted responsibly and appropriately in all
respects regarding this matter," he said.

An FDA spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for a response to
Grassley's charges.

Hampshire did not reply to an e-mail asking for comment, and she could not be
reached by phone.

Grassley said he sent Wyeth a letter on Thursday asking the company for
information and documents related to its investigation of Hampshire and comments
by
a Wyeth salesperson who "attempted to discredit Dr. Hampshire in the
veterinary community." Petkus said Wyeth would cooperate with Grassley's
request.

Wyeth voluntarily pulled Proheart 6 from the U.S. market in September 2004,
after thousands of reports of serious side effects, and the death of 600 dogs.

Grassley has been a vocal critic of the FDA and its relationship with the
pharmaceutical industry. His committee has investigated the agency's oversight
of
several medicines, including Merck & Co. Inc.'s withdrawn arthritis pill
Vioxx.

He said the Wyeth case is another example of a company "that appears too cozy
with the FDA."
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