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Disclosure of conflicts of interest and credibility for the medical profession

Authors Braillon A, Granger B

Received 13 November 2015

Accepted for publication 16 November 2015

Published 30 December 2015 Volume 2016:7 Pages 1—2

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S100475

Checked for plagiarism Yes



Alain Braillon,1,* Bernard Granger2,*

1Alcohol Treatment Unit, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, 2Department of Psychiatry, Tarnier Hospital (AP-HP), Paris, France,

*Both authors contributed equally to this work

We were surprised by an unbalanced review about nalmefene for alcohol dependence, wherein the authors had stated no conflicts of interest (COIs).1 The Editor in Chief and the Publisher were very professional when we stressed our concerns, and they must be commended. They accepted publication of a critical free evaluation based upon evidence where we also called for full disclosure of COIs.2

 

View the original Letter by Braillon and Granger

View the original article by Paille and Martini

Dear editor

We were surprised by an unbalanced review about nalmefene for alcohol dependence, wherein the authors had stated no conflicts of interest (COIs).1 The Editor in Chief and the Publisher were very professional when we stressed our concerns, and they must be commended. They accepted publication of a critical free evaluation based upon evidence where we also called for full disclosure of COIs.2

The authors’ correction acknowledged several links (consultancies, honoraria, speaker fees, travel grants) for several pharmaceutical companies, including Lundbeck, which markets nalmefene.3 However, existing links with Grey Healthcare France were not provided. Grey Healthcare is “a full-service, global, integrated communications agency”, which claims “our market-leading campaigns generate brand engagement, grow sales …”, and has among its clients Lundbeck for nalmefene. Such links should have been disclosed according to the French Sunshine Act.

Whatever the law could be, science integrity requires that all COIs, financial or otherwise, that could ever have affected a researcher’s judgment should be declared. They overcome our most basic medical commitment: to care for those who need it, and also constitute a crisis of credibility for the medical profession.4

Disclosure

AB was coinvestigator for the clinical trial ALPADIR (baclofen). BG has no conflict of interest related to this communication.


References

1.

Paille F, Martini H. Nalmefene: a new approach to the treatment of alcohol dependence. Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2014;5:87–94.

2.

Braillon A, Granger B. Nalmefene and alcohol dependence: a new approach or the same old unacceptable marketing? Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2015;6:75–80.

3.

Paille F, Martini H. Nalmefene: a new approach to the treatment of alcohol dependence [corrigendum]. Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2015;6:81–82.

4.

Braillon A. Conflicts of interest and the future of medicine: the United States, France and Japan. J Public Health Policy. 2011;32:391–398.

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