Drug company targets US state health officials

A major pharmaceutical company has sought to influence state government officials with trips, perks, lavish meals, and other payments, says an investigator from the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General.

Investigator Allen Jones told the BMJ earlier this week that he had discovered that the drug company Janssen was sponsoring educational events for state employees, funding individuals' travel arrangements, and paying honorariums of up to $2000 (£1100; €1610) each to key officials who held influence over the drugs prescribed in state-run prisons and mental hospitals.

Yet as his investigations widened, Mr Jones was …