Italian police arrest drug agency officials over alleged falsification of data

A scandal involving drug licences for cash has engulfed Italy’s drug regulatory agency, and leading officials have been arrested, along with people linked to major drug companies.

The most senior figure to have been arrested and held by the police in his own home (“arresto al domiciliaro”) is Pasqualino Rossi, vice president of the Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA), the Italian Agency for Pharmaceuticals. Dr Rossi is also one of Italy’s most senior representatives at the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

Six drug company lobbyists have also been held. As the BMJ went to press, four people were in custody and three were under house arrest. Another individual wanted by the police was not …