I found this message board as a result of a Google search, and I'm happy to have an opportunity to vent my frustrations. This year, the AATS is currently being held in Boston (November 16th & 17th). My Chief pointed out to me today that once again, Photofrin isn't a sponsor here. Even with the unfathomable rise in revenue from the dramatic increase in price of Photofrin, it's evident by their lack of attendance at this important conference that Pinnacle Biologics isn't interested in helping to foster the future innovation of the thoracic community, nor the health of patients we serve. However, what is important for Pinnacle is what we can do for them; never having an interest in reciprocation. We've had enough of this organization and your antiquated treatment modality. I will personally be notifying each of the Program Directors and Program Committee members regarding this organization’s clear disinterest and apathy of supporting our science. AATS Representative, on the behalf of: Raphael Bueno, MD, FACS Associate Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery Brigham and Women's Hospital Professor of Surgery Harvard Medical School Traves D. Crabtree, MD Assistant Professor Washington University School Of Medicine Thomas D'Amico, MD Professor and Vice Chairman of Surgery Chief, Section of General Thoracic Surgery Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Duke University Medical Center Todd L. Demmy, MD, FACS Clinical Chair, Department of Thoracic Surgery Professor of Oncology Roswell Park Cancer Institute Associate Professor of Surgery School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences State University of New York at Buffalo Hiran C. Fernando, MD, FACS Director, Center for Minimally Invasive Esophageal Surgery Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery Cardiothoracic Surgery Center for Thoracic Oncology Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MA Bruce E. Johnson, MD Director, Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School David R. Jones, MD Professor of Surgery and Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics Vice- Chair of Clinical Affiars and Quality Division Chief, Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery University of Virginia Shaf Keshavjee, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS Surgeon-in-Chief James Wallace McCutcheon Chair in Surgery Director, Toronto Lung Transplant Program Program Medical Director Surgical Services and Critical Care UHN Director, Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories Scientist, McEwen Center for Regenerative Medicine Professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery & Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto James D. Luketich, MD Professory of Cardiothoracic Surgery University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Robert J. McKenna, Jr., MD Co-Direct and Surgical Director Women's Guild Lung Institute Program Director, General Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Cedars Sinai Medical Center Bryan Meyers, MD, MPH Patrick and Joy Williamson Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery Chief, Section of Thoracic Surgery Washington University School of Medicine Keith Naunheim, MD Professor Saint Louis University School of Medicine Director, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery St. Louis University Cancer Center Mark Onaitis, MD Associate Professor of Surgery Duke Cancer Institute G. Alec Patterson, MD Evarts A. Graham Professor, Surgery Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Washington University School of Medicine Joe B. Putnam, Jr., MD Ingram Professor of Cancer Research Professor and Chairman, Department of Thoracic Surgery Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Professor of Biomedical Informatics Vanderbilt University Medical Center David J. Sugarbaker, MD Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery Brigham and Women's Hospital Scott J. Swanson, MD, FACS Chief Surgical Officer, Disease Center Leader, Surgical Oncology, Professor of Surgery Brigham & Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School Dana Farber Cancer Institute Garrett L. Walsh, MD Professor of Surgery The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Douglas E. Wood, MD Professor and Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Vice-Chair, Department of Surgery Endowed Chair in Lung Cancer Research University of Washington Cameron Wright, MD Professor of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery Massachusetts General Hospital Kazuhiro Yasufuku, MD, PhD Director, Interventional Thoracic Surgery Program Toronto General Hospital Assistant Professor of Surgery University of Toronto
Photofrin is still around?!?! Didn't this product loose all market share to Barrx and CryoSpray ablation? Now that Cryo is treating in the lung with their new machine isn't that "checkmate" for Photofrin? I would think so. Or is the VP of Sales and the CEO still holding the the sales team responsible to promote off-label in the cholangiocarcinoma market? That would make sense considering it's the only market they potentially have a shot selling any product. The only guy I know still doing it is Ross from OSU, but I think he's on this company's payroll in some [bullshit] function. I think his title is: VP of Kickback Collection
It's time to direct the FDA to this board and the Pinnacle Biologics address. Time to put an end to the "pharma malpractice."
Sales Team?? You mean to tell me there is still a sales team in place? I figured they all would be gone by now enjoying greener pasteurs or green pasteurs minus the WEEDS.
Why wouldn't they be at this Lung Cancer meeting? It's probably the most important conference of the year! Look at the list of physicians that this person listed! Probably the most highly respected and influential Thoracic Surgeons in the World (notice Ross' name isn't listed?)! I wonder whose blunder this was? Actually no, I don't wonder, because I already know! BH ... Probably nearing the last mistake he makes with this organization. I wonder who will be unlucky enough to hire him next?