Ex-Manager Claims Amgen Hides Problems

VENTURA, Calif. (CN) - Amgen fired a project manager for complaining that the pharmaceutical giant underreported "adverse events" involving "every product it markets," the man claims in Superior Court. Shawn O'Brien says Amgen continues to underreport "post marketing adverse event" data to the FDA.

O'Brien says he was ordered to "stop all work" in 2007 after he found that Amgen's post-marketing product complaints department was underreporting adverse data for "every product it markets."

O'Brien says he was told not to discuss the issue with anyone, and four weeks later he was fired in a "reduction in force."

O'Brien seeks lost wages and punitive damages for wrongful firing, retaliation and unfair competition, and an injunction preventing Amgen from enforcing a mandatory arbitration contract he says he was forced to sign when Amgen hired him in 2003. He is represented by Philip Ganong of Bakersfield.

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