In an unusual move, Minerva Surgical is bringing a corporate grievance into the research realm, calling upon Dove Medical Press to retract a study funded by a major rival. In a press release, Minerva Surgical cites perceived inaccuracies in a paper titled “Efficacy and patient satisfaction after NovaSure and Minerva endometrial ablation for treating abnormal uterine bleeding: a retrospective comparative study,” published in the International Journal of Women’s Health (IJWH). The study was funded by Hologic, the manufacturer of NovaSure.
Minerva previously sued Hologic, claiming the NovaSure Advanced relied on patented technology for endometrial ablation. Earlier this year, a federal judge rejected Minerva’s request for an injunction preventing Hologic from selling the device.
Minerva Surgical claims there are multiple instances of false or misleading information in the new study touting the NovaSure as a more effective device than the Minerva. The company specifically notes that some claims in the published study directly contradict information in an earlier draft, which Minerva Surgical obtained while the authors were shopping it around to other medical journals.
Minerva Surgical further alleges that the methodology of the study is not adequately detailed, which means the report falls short of Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.
“We trust that Hologic will live up to its Code of Ethics published on their website that commits them to ethical conduct, to honesty, and to being truthful and upfront with customers and shareholders,” David Cope, president and CEO of Minerva Surgical, says in the press release. “We also trust that the International Journal of Women’s Health will live up to its commitment to abide by the COPE guidelines.”
Hologic defends the integrity of the study. Hologic spokesperson Jane Mazur tells STAT the company maintains the data is sound and was held to “rigorous standards” by Dove Press.
STAT also reports Taylor & Francis, Dove’s parent company, is working with the editor-in-chief of IJWH to determine if there is validity to the concerns raised by Minerva Surgical.
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