House Committee Seeks Information on Marketing, ‘Bundling’ Contracts Related to Anemia Medications

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has asked Amgen and Johnson & Johnson to submit information on marketing and "bundling" contracts related to anemia medications, which reports have linked with increased risk for death when administered at high doses, Bloomberg/Boston Globe reports.

The committee has requested information on the amount that J&J has spent on direct-to-consumer television and print advertisements for the anemia medication Procrit since 2001. In addition, the committee seeks an explanation of the decision by J&J to discontinue the ads for Procrit in 2005.

The committee has requested different information from Amgen, which does not market the anemia medications Epogen and Aranesp directly to consumers. The committee seeks copies of contracts under which Amgen provided discounts on Neupogen and Neulasta, medications that increase white blood cell production in cancer patients who receive chemotherapy, to physicians who prescribed Aranesp. The committee also has requested copies of TV and print ads for Neupogen and Neulasta.

In a March 31 letter to Amgen CEO Kevin Sharer, committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) wrote, "We are concerned that such 'bundling' practices may have helped fuel excessive and dangerous off-label use of Aranesp."

Kassy McGourty -- a spokesperson for J&J subsidiary Ortho Biotech, which markets Procrit -- in an e-mail wrote, "We have received the letter from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and will continue to cooperate fully with the committee's requests." Amgen did not immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment (Bloomberg/Boston Globe, 4/1).