“This landmark settlement holds Janssen accountable for its actions and sends a message to all pharmaceutical companies that these practices will not be tolerated,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Since depression can be a terminal illness, why would you want to take a drug
that would actually increase your risk of killing yourself or someone else? …
Pharma will have to name names and specify dollar amounts, too. The law also
would ban nearly all gifts–including meals–for docs, nurses, pharmacists,
health plans and hospitals/clinics. …
They called for “the elimination or modification of common practices related to
small gifts, pharmaceutical samples, continuing medical education, funds for
physician travel, speakers bureaus, ghostwriting, and consulting and research
contracts.” …
Aspen will distribute Glaxo’s meds in South Africa, and the two companies will
work together to sell their products across the remainder of the continent. …
If a new wave of H1N1 hits in the fall–which is what happened with the 1918
pandemic–it could come roaring back stronger, virologists are saying. With this
new strain spreading in Asia, where highly pathogenic H5N1 is active, there’s
the potential for it to pick up genetic material that makes it more virulent.
That would be the “full-blown crisis”
the Post mentioned. You can bet that
even more people would be crying for pharma’s help then. Let’s hope we don’t
have to get to that point for another round …
Taking effect July 1, the policy prohibits any pharma-funded gifts and
entertainment, no matter how small their value. Drug reps will be
restricted to no-patients-allowed parts of the teaching hospital and its
clinics–and will be allowed even in those areas only by invitation. And
beginning in 2010, the school will also bar free drug samples. …
(Exercising Your Mind) All of the following text and