In the third quarter of the year, more than one thousand speakers gave a total of 2,493 talks and each was paid an average of $1,548, with the top earner receiving $22,693 and dozens of others earning more than $10,000 for the quarter.
Merck made the report voluntarily, but federal legislation sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) would require drug- and device-makers to report details of all payments to doctors every year.
Read the release on Merck’s physician payments.
