May 08, 2009

University, Feds Investigating Texas Psych Research

Via the Dallas Morning News comes word that Karen Wagner, a well-known University of Texas psych researcher, is being investigated both by the University of Texas and the Department of Health and Human Services (which handles most federal health research funding) over allegations that Wagner failed to reveal over $150,000 in payments to her from GlaxoSmithKine, makers of Paxil. Wagner was the subject of a letter from Se. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) to UT officials last September. Among other things, Wagner is a co-author of the infamous Paxil Study 329, underwritten by Glaxo.

"The university system has not disciplined Wagner, who could not be reached for comment. But Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Barry Bergdorf said she has been under investigation for the last two weeks. Wagner will remain at work throughout the investigation, he said, and the UT Board of Regents has been notified.

"'We've taken all reasonable steps and will continue to do so,' Bergdorf said. The fact that Grassley made the report to the inspector general 'is probably of concern to Dr. Wagner.'"

Earlier Grassley had reported that Wagner pulled in $160,000 a year from Glaxo from 2000 to 2005, but had only reported $600,000 to UT officials, which could put her and the university in violation of federal research rules around conflict of interest disclosure.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at May 8, 2009 12:10 PM
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Comments

Dr. Wagner along with all these other doctors are a joke. They have been on the take for years. The UT System also has been at fault for not having their records straight.

this cultural of corruption is all over the Country at all Universities.

Pretty sad.

Posted by: Matt at May 8, 2009 12:47 PM

Do these psychiatrists have no conscience ?
Paxil has destroyed countless lives.
GSK has behaved atrociously in regards to concealing data and influencing key opinion leaders and the promotion of this drug. The whole charade and the behavior of all involved in this paxil-scam is absolutely appalling..


Posted by: truthman30 at May 8, 2009 01:07 PM

http://www.pharmalot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/wagner-chart.jpg

From Pharmalot , investigation by Grassley of Wagner in Sept 08 ..

http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/09/grassley-targets-another-academic-over-conflicts/

Posted by: truthman30 at May 8, 2009 01:21 PM

The shame of it is that, for whatever reason, the UoT's system failed to pick up this stuff, as it was happening. Naive, or deliberately looking the other way, I wonder? And now, nearly a decade after the first reported non-declaration took place, there's an investigation, which by extraordinary coincidence is being carried out at the same time as Grassley's.

So, Wagner functions in an environment in which this sort of thing appears to be rife, but she's been caught out by some scrupulous (but it ought to be routine, and it ought to be carried out by the Uni), investigation by Grassley. And she's going to be hung out to dry like The Nematode and the Great Genius Who Is Professor Martin Keller, I suspect, as the Uni denies all knowledge, and she will be unable to articulate the pressure that she felt to talk up drugs that didn't work, courtesy of the freebies she was receiving, not least because she will perceive that anything she says will be construed as an attempt to shift blame and will indict her.

I'd like to understand the process... I'd like to understand how it is that people in important positions may be bought, and their objectivity go out of the window, in this way, as their efforts become focused on the sale of drugs that don't work and never could. I'd like to know if Pharma understands/knows the pressure that it exerts when it offers this kind of wealth. Because if it does, we have our smoking gun.

Matt

Posted by: Matthew Holford at May 10, 2009 09:06 AM

My son committed suicide after taking Paxil for 17 days. Dr. Wagner helped cover up the bad side effects of Paxil. I would like to meet with this woman. On second thought, I probably shouldn't.

Posted by: New Mexico Juan at May 19, 2009 09:05 AM
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