“I Was Directed to Market OxyContin”: A Purdue Pharma Rep Tells How He Was Paid to Push Opioids

Very well stated. I couldn't agree more.

 

Nope, it did not matter if the rep visited the doc or not. As long as a rep had a writer in his/her computer system, they got credit! Purdue rule was the rep address always one over IMS or AMA address

There were docs who were "active" in the system in west coast territories AND east coast territories.

 

I was hired in 2008, and while there was a lot of pressure to increase your sales, I was never directed to do anything unethically. All pharma companies require reps to grow business, and the stress and pressures are the same with every single company.

I can’t speak to the times prior to 2008, but I can speak about the direction I was always given, and never once was I directed to do anything off label. In fact, it was the exact opposite. The direction was to only speak to what was written in the FPI-approved by the FDA, and to correct anything incorrectly stated by healthcare providers, period.

In my opinion, if pharma companies wish to avoid or minimize lawsuits, they should stop paying bonuses, and only provide salaries. It doesn’t mean it would be a perfect world, but it would certainly minimize liabilities. I’m no longer with Purdue, and I appreciate all the wonderful people I worked with during my 9 years there. I met a lot of intelligent and hard working people, and I will be forever grateful for the relationships I made.

 

Why are you still kissing the golden ass?

 

Don't make Purdue sound so innocent. You know that you were pressured to hit reach and frequency numbers based on company generated ranking potential. They may have toned down the messaging but the pressure to grow at all cost was still there from management and you know it. I saw reps regularly lie and enter other reps doctors to win awards and get promoted all in the spirit of being super competitive. Management looked the other way if numbers were good.

 

lawsuits!

 

And when Hysingla ER was launched and it wasn’t catching on and sales weren’t as expected Purdue started removing doctors from region zero because it was those doctors that were the “movers and shakers” in the opioid world! That was shady AF and so calculated on the part of Purdue! That will all come out when the reps they screwed over get subpoenaed and have to testify!!

 

As I said, every pharma company expects reps to grow their business, so yes it’s stressful. We are in Sales and that’s how it works AT EVERY SINGLE PHARMA COMPANY! Nonetheless, I was still not directed to lie or cheat!

 

Worked at other companies and had never heard of a PEP plan. The pressure to sell more at all costs was enormous. There were a few Regional Managers who were real shady.

 

Bump

 

This is true! Early on money enticed people to grow. Later the fear of immense pressure and PEP plans drove people. To what extent? I’m sure that will come out in court cases!

 

Let's hope so!!

 

Is true we put the bid in to partner with Nektar to sell the 181 molecule. C let it leak out. This baby is going to sell like MCD's hotcakes