Officials seek files from Amgen, J

Amgen Inc. and Johnson & Johnson have been asked to hand over to U.S. lawmakers documents related to the promotion of anemia drugs linked to increased risk of death at high doses.

The documents, including records on direct-to-consumer television and print advertising, are sought by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led by John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), according to letters posted on the committee’s website.

The committee asked Johnson & Johnson to provide information on its ad campaigns for its anemia drug Procrit.

Though Amgen hasn’t run consumer ads for its products, marketed as Epogen and Aranesp, the committee is questioning whether the company offered discounts to doctors on two different treatments, Neupogen and Neulasta, in return for prescribing Aranesp.