Pfizer terminates three executives in HIV division - Ropes & Gray investigates allegations about illegal marketing

According to an internal Pfizer whistleblower, Pfizer today announced the termination of three executives in the HIV sales division. Two of these individuals have previously been mentioned in e-mails related to allegations about illegal premarketing of the HIV drug maraviroc, which is one of Pfizer’s most interesting new drug prospects.

Mark Brown, Vice President Sales, Pfizer Anti-Infective and HIV/AIDS Divisions, today called a hasty telephone conference which took place at 4:30 pm, according to a sales representative who participated in the call. Pfizer sales representatives from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic districts participated in the phone conference.

Mr. Brown announced that Arthur Rodriguez, sales director for the HIV division and Kelly Fitzgerald former assistant sales director, most recently HIV district manager for the Boston District, as well as Bob Mumford, HIV district manager for the Washington District "are no longer with Pfizer."

The employees who participated in the telephone conference were encouraged to ask questions, however, no one ventured to ask for the reason these three individuals were no longer with the company.

Brown also said that, "It is my understanding that many of you are afraid to talk about Viracept because you are afraid of getting into trouble. That is not the case. We want you to continue to promote Viracept, but please do not use anything that is unapproved. And please understand that we are not trying to get people into trouble. Move forward and continue your work. A new sales director will be appointed soon."

Mr. Art Rodriguez' voice message in his office in Irivine, CA, was still unchanged tonight, and his cell phone was also operating. He did not respond on either number. Mark Brown was unavailable for comment.

On June 21 the FDA announced the agency would delay approval of maraviroc. This came as a surprise, since a panel of reviewers endorsed the drug in April. The FDA announcement was made after allegations about illegal premarketing of maraviroc surfaced on my personal blog Question Authority. Pfizer’s law firm Ropes & Gray is investigating these allegations.

For background on Pfizer’s maraviroc scandal, click here.

- Peter Rost, M.D. is a former VP of Pfizer and the author of Killer Drug and The Whistleblower.

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