SEC examines sale of data by medical researchers

The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an investigation following this weekend's Seattle Times story detailing cases in which doctors involved in clinical trials sold investors access to information about their research. The development follows a call for an investigation on Monday by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). The article revealed 26 cases in which doctors were paid as much as $300 to $500 an hour to disclose details of their research, information which critics say gave investors an unfair advantage.

PhRMA head Billy Tauzin said he backs the investigation. "If a doctor violates the law, breaks his confidentiality agreement with a pharmaceutical research company and puts personal financial gain over the needs of patients, he needs to be severely punished," Tauzin said.

- see this story from the Seattle Times 

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