The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which funded some of the accused individuals, has initiated an internal review system to detect potential problems with the management of financial conflicts of interest and has implemented changes to minimize possible bias in its funded studies. More broadly, the NIH is substantively revising its regulations on financial conflict of interest, which were originally adopted in 1995. The proposed new regulations are slated to be available for public comment in early spring 2010. But one of the largest effects of this scandal has been to raise a difficult and still unanswered question about the integrity of psychiatrists. Is the financial conflict of interest problem worse for psychiatrists or are psychiatrists just an easy target? A review of evidence is in order

Thoughtful editorial that suggestions caution regarding some of the current relationships that exist today. More transparency is the rule of the day.

Full text [HTML; subscription required]: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/303/12/1192

Nintendo Co. and Apple Inc. are helping drugmakers find new ways to get their products to customers as health-policy changes and new technologies force them to move beyond traditional marketing methods, audit firm Ernst & Young said in a report today.

Bayer AG, Germany’s biggest pharmaceutical company, has hooked its Didget glucometer to Nintendo’s video-gaming devices to encourage children with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar regularly. Johnson & Johnson is working with Apple to create an iPhone application that allows patients to upload and share their glucometer data.

Once again, another great opportunity for informatics pharmacists - and other clinicians - to help meet the needs of industry while making sure these types of projects are beneficial to unmet patient needs.