I have in the past written a number of articles about Jane Roe, a Pfizer whistleblower who made the allegations that Pfizer illegally premarketed its new HIV drug maraviroc. Most recently I reported on BrandweekNRX that three Pfizer executives in the HIV division were terminated only a few days before maraviroc received a delayed approval.
Two long message threads (here and here) have now appeared on the Pfizer message board on CafePharma, indicating that the maraviroc whistleblower's name is "James Raymond," who supposedly is a Pfizer sales rep now getting a nursing degree. The fact that James Raymond is indeed one of many employees in Pfizer's sales organization is confirmed by information in other CafePharma posts.
The vicious character assassination of James Raymond in the more recent posts includes statements such as, "He was untouchable when his life-partner was a high-prescribing physician within the specialty," he "performed poorly," "I have no respect for Jim R. This guy never worked an honest day in his life," "most whistleblowers are opportunists. And JR is the king," "Raymond lives the high life...........that low life."
The anonymous posters also hint of drug abuse; "JR use to party with his old manager on company time. Their ride along was to the finest bars and restaurants. If Pfizer wanted to up the anty just make him take a drug test."
And some blame James Raymond for the three fired executives and the delayed approval of maraviroc: "You must be so proud, hope you are enjoying sitting on your ass collecting money while families have been torn apart. Too bad for them that you just couldn't do your job. It was everyone else's fault that you couldn't make your numbers. Hope all the pts and family members with HIV will understand that they may not get the treatment they deserve in time because of great people like you. Good luck in nursing school."
Next post complains, "They fired our leadership. How will this division successfully launch Maraviroc? This is a brand new class. They have to have someone with HIV experience that can lead the division in educating Infectious Disease physicians."
It is rare to see so much hate displayed publicly on a single message board, directed at one individual.
The comments speak loudly and unequivocally about the internal work environment within Pfizer and Pfizer employees' view of someone they believe to be a whistleblower.
The only remaining question is if this is an orchestrated campaign by Pfizer's legal and public relations department, aimed at silencing future whistleblowers and forever taint "James Raymond" - or, if a number of Pfizer employees took it upon themselves to identify one coworker and attempt to ruin his future career, reputation and honor.
A Pfizer spokesperson, when asked specifically about CafePharma, by the New York Times in the article A Their Space for Drug Sales Reps, declined to comment specifically on CafePharma, but admitted that Pfizer "monitors 'every communication channel' that reached its constituency."
So at a minimum one may conclude that Pfizer is well aware of these postings and have made no effort to remove any of the libelous threads directed at an innocent employee.
- Peter Rost, M.D. is a former VP of Pfizer and the author of Killer Drug and The Whistleblower.
THE FOLLOWING EVENT IS TAKING PLACE AND IT CONCERNS AMERICANS AS WELL AS CANADIANS
PFIZER COVER UP OVER MEDICATION CELEBREX IN CANADA This is a very real situation and the media so far is being very sheepish! My FACTS are rock solid!!!!!! I will not be bought off! I will not let thier lawyers make the suggestion AGAIN! They already have!!!!! the following is a link to a YOUTUBE video. Please watch and resend the Video! THANK YOU! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xmoOmDpZoQ and MAINSTREAM MEDIA ARE ACTING VERY SHEEPISH The Americans that have been hurt by this medication are being taken advangtage of. Pfizer should not be getting away with this in your PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY . If not for the AMERICAN health system I would not have been able to prove this. So this concerns AMERICANS as much as it does CANADIANS. I STAND STRONG!!DAY 28 HUNGER STRIKE
Posted by: timothy moorley | January 22, 2009 at 06:22 AM