DOJ Indicts Former Study Coordinator Over Falsifying Data for GSK Trial

A former study coordinator at Unlimited Medical Research, which helped conduct a clinical trial on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has been indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly falsifying data.

Jessica Palacio was coordinator for a trial assessing GSK’s investigational inhaled asthma treatment Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate) in children ages four to 11, when she allegedly created false reports to make it appear more subjects had enrolled in the study than actually had, according to the indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Palacio also allegedly enrolled ineligible participants, including some who didn’t suffer from asthma. The DOJ charged her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud by allegedly sending out reports with fraudulent information and allegedly making false statements about the study. If convicted, Palacio could face up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, as well as up to five years for the false statements charge.