Fifth Annual PharmaCongress: Overview

PharmaCongress Overview

The Issue:

Over the past few years, the pharmaceutical industry has come under increased regulatory scrutiny by the federal and state governments as well as the plaintiff's bar. The U.S. Government, State Attorney Generals and the FDA have begun to more rigorously enforce the rules and regulations that apply to the pharmaceutical industry. Until recently, the majority of the government's enforcement efforts have focused on health care providers. Increasingly, the pharmaceutical sector is becoming the subject of healthcare enforcement and prosecution initiatives. Pharmaceutical companies are being forced to update their knowledge of existing laws and incorporate them into their business plans as well as create future business plans that comply with the often ambiguous and confusing rules and regulations. Critical issues such as drug pricing, sales and marketing practice, conducting clinical trials, publication and off-label use and the new Medicare prescription drug benefit are many topics that will be discussed at this important congress.

The Congress:

The Pharmaceutical Congress 2004 (the Congress) has been established in response to the heightened need for corporate compliance programs, increased government scrutiny and new regulations being imposed upon the pharmaceutical industry. It will bring together the nation's leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. This three-day conference, sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Compliance Forum, will take place November 14 through 17, 2004 in Washington, DC at the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel. Pharmaceutical professionals looking for a comprehensive understanding of the current and future compliance laws and regulations and enforcement initiatives affecting the pharmaceutical industry should plan to attend.

Sponsoring Organization:

The Congress is sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Compliance Forum (PCF). The PCF was founded in early-1999 by compliance professionals from the pharmaceutical industry to promote effective corporate compliance programs. The organization is open to others in the industry and has more than doubled in membership since its founding. The members meet twice a year, for one to two days, focusing on open and informal sharing of compliance information, best practices, and current developments in the field.

Written Materials:

The Faculty of the Congress will prepare written materials to accompany their presentations, including copies of presentation overheads, slides and related materials that will be included with the Congress materials.

Who Should Attend:

Pharmaceutical and Health Care Executives and Board Members
Healthcare Compliance Professionals
Health Plan, Health System and Physician Organization Medical Directors
Physicians
Pharmacists
Purchasers, including Private Employers and Public Purchasers
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Site Management Organizations
Clinical Research Organizations
Pharmacy Benefit
Management Companies
Health Plans and Health Insurers
Wholesale, Retail, Mail Order and Internet Pharmacies
Health Care Attorneys and In-house Counsel
Compliance Officers
Privacy Officers
Ethics Officers
Food and Drug Law Attorneys
Pharmaceutical Consultants
Investment Bankers
Venture Capitalists
Health Care Regulators and Policy Makers
Health Services Researchers and Academics
Health Care Auditors

The Congress Goals and Objectives:

To Discuss the Regulators' Enforcement Initiatives Pertaining to the Pharmaceutical Industry
To Articulate Practical Tips about Implementing Compliance Programs in Pharmaceutical Companies
To Suggest Appropriate Steps to be Taken if a Government Investigation is Initiated
To Relate to Case Studies that Demonstrate how Multinational Corporations Expanded their Compliance Programs to International Operations.
To Provide an Overview of the Final OIG Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
To Discuss the Specific Impact on Compliance Program Organization and Structure as a Result of the OIG's Compliance Guidance
To Review the Identified Risk Areas in the Compliance Guidance and the Potential Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry
To Analyze New and Existing Compliance Obligations for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
To Explore Practical Initiatives Your Company can Pursue to Implement Provisions of the OIG Compliance Guidance
To Explain how Clinical Trials Should be Conducted and Build Controls to Mitigate Potential Risk
To Explain the FDA Labeling and Advertising requirements and How to Build Compliance Programs around those Requirements
To Analyze Legal Obstacles Associated with Promoting Drugs on the Internet and to Develop Responsive Strategies
To Learn Drug Sample Regulations and Develop Strategies for Dealing with them
To Assess the Applicability of HIPAA to the Pharmaceutical Industry and Suggest Compliance Strategies
To Set Forth the Do's and Don'ts of Government Pharmaceutical Pricing Regulation and Suggest Necessary Controls to Bill Medicare and Medicaid