MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'international news'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:48:46 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592696&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2011%2F03%2F15%2Findia%25e2%2580%2599s-pact-with-europe-may-choke-its-generic-drug-exports%2F International aid agencies have urged the Indian government to reject a free trade agreement it is negotiating with the European Union. The agreement may undermine India’s ability to produce cheap generic drugs. The concern stems from leaked sections of the text showing that the EU wants India to accept a data exclusivity provision which would force India’s generic manufacturers to submit their own data on safety and effectiveness to register the generic products. It will force generic manufacturers to repeat clinical trials already done by industry to get their drugs approved.BMJ 2011, 342, 1480 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592696 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:08:48 +0100 4592696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4259195&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F12%2F14%2Fmedicines-agency-widens-access-to-documents%2F The European Medicines Agency is preparing to make more of its documentaion available to health professionals and the general public. The policy can be seen at www.ema.europa.eu <http://www.ema.europa.eu/>BMJ 2010, 341, c7039 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4259195 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:07:04 +0100 4259195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245604&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F12%2F09%2Fdrug-companies-may-provide-information-directly-to-eu-patients%2F European parliament has passed draft legislation to allow drug companies to provide information directly to patients. The draft legislation would enable patients in the EU to receive data on a drug’s characteristic and the disease and condition for which it is designed. It claims to guarantee that the information provided would not stray into advertising. EU Governments have to approve this legislation before it can take effect. BMJ 2010, 341, c6883 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245604 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:21:40 +0100 4245604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159509&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F11%2F12%2Ftwo-german-doctors-are-convicted-of-taking-drug-company-bribes%2F Two doctors in Germany have been convicted of bribery for accepting money from a drug firm for prescribing its drug.BMJ 2010, 341,c6359 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159509 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:23:27 +0100 4159509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155403&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F11%2F11%2Froche-fined-for-breaching-promotion-code%2F An Australian subsidiary of Roche has been fined £124,200 for offering a regional public health organisation funding for a nursing position in exchange for doctors in the region prescribing its hepatitis drug Pegasys. BMJ 2010, 341, c6232 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155403 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:48:53 +0100 4155403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155404&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F11%2F11%2Fgsk-agrees-to-pay-fine-for-badly-made-drugs%2F GSK is to pay $750m to settle cirimal and civil complaints that the company had for year knowingly sold adulterated formulations of four drugs it produced in Puerto Rico. (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155404 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:46:49 +0100 4155404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125285&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F11%2F01%2Fdollars-for-docs-drug-companies-accursed-of-using-unsuitable-doctors-for-promotion%2F The drug companies pay hundreds of doctors who have been disciplined for ethical breaches or had their medical licences revolked as speakers and consultants says a ProPublica report. The reporters created a searchable database  of payments to doctors since 2009. The report can be found at http://www.propublica.org/article/profiles-of-the-top-earners-in-dollar-for-docs and the database at http://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/. BMJ 2010; 341:c6026 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125285 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:24:29 +0100 4125285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119719&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F10%2F27%2Feuropean-medicines-agency-tightens-rules-on-experts-interaction-with-drug-industry%2F The EMA has launched much stricter rules for its experts’ interactions with the drug industry. The agency’s new guidance on conflicts of interest says people who have interests in a company will have their work with the agency restricted. The policy is due to come into efect next year. BMJ 2010, 341, c5902 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119719 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:36:58 +0100 4119719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119721&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F10%2F27%2Fus-drug-company-executives-could-face-criminal-charges%2F Executives of drug companies could face criminal charges if companies promote the off-label use of drugs, says an attorney for the US Food and Drug Administration. This aims to move away from fines to companies which does not currently seem to act as a deterrent for companies. BMJ 2010, 341, c5808 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119721 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:30:19 +0100 4119721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077597&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F10%2F18%2Fnew-rules-allow-eu-patients-to-report-drug-concerns-directly%2F On September 22, the European parliament agreed new legislation on pharmacovigilence. Under this new system, national web portals will be established to provide the public with information on medicinal products and any known side effects. The portals will contain assessment reports, summaries of product characteristics and information leaflets. They will be linked to the EU’s EudraVigilance database. BMJ 2010, 341, c5344 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077597 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:39:34 +0100 4077597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077598&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F10%2F18%2Fboehringer-halts-development-of-libido-drug-for-women%2F Boehringer announce that it is withdrawing its drug, flibanserin, for increasing femal sexual desire, from development. The company made the announcement after negative reviews from the US Food and Drug Administration. BMJ 201, 341, c5701 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077598 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:29:49 +0100 4077598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074449&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F10%2F15%2Findustry-lobbying-and-trade-pact-threatens-indias-role-as-major-supplier-of-generic-drugs%2F There is concern that trade negotioations and industry lobbying will threaten the flow of affordable generic drugs to developing countries. A study in Journal of International Aids Society (2010, 13:35) shows that 91% of all antiretrovirals for children are Indian generics. However, the study warns that the free trade agreements that India is negotiating with the EU may increase the price of the antiretrovirals. BMJ, 2010, 341: C5135 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074449 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:25:59 +0100 4074449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994349&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F09%2F23%2Feuropean-drug-agency-calls-for-urgent-action-for-more-ethical-trials-in-developing-countries%2F The European Medicines Agency publishe a major discussion paper highlighting that drug companies and doctors are continuing to conduct unethical research in developing countries. The paper is out for consultation until 30.9.10 (www.ema.europa.eu). BMJ 2010, 341, 4984 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994349 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:00:06 +0100 3994349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976714&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F09%2F16%2Fghostwritten-articles-overstated-benefits-of-hrt%2F An analysis in PLOS medicine (2010; 7(9): e1000335) states that review articles that were ghostwritten overstates the benefit of hormone replacement therapy. This finding is from an analysis of 1500 documents unsealed in recent litigation afainst former drug company Wyeth (now part of Pfizer) looking at how drug companies use ghostwriters to insert marketing messages into published articles in medical journals.  The Wyeth ghostwriting archive is available at www.plosmedicine.org/static/ghostwriting.action BMJ 2010. 341: c4894 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976714 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:38:42 +0100 3976714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3958059&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F09%2F10%2Fastrazeneca-to-pay-198m-to-patients%2F AstraZeneca are to pay out $198m to 17500 patients who claimed that anti-psychotic quetiapine (Seroquel) had caused them to develop diabetes. BMJ 2010, 341, c4422 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3958059 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:09:34 +0100 3958059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3958060&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F09%2F10%2Fcampaigners-urge-patient-groups-to-reveal-their-funding%2F Health Action International are lobbying the European Medicines Agency to tighten its rules that require patient and consumer groups working with the agency to disclose any corporate funding they receive. BMJ 2010; 341: c4459 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3958060 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:07:49 +0100 3958060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3872746&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F08%2F16%2Favandia-adviser-amy-be-probed-for-possible-conflict-of-interests%2F The US FDA is looking to investigate a member of the panel that recently recommended restrictions on rosiglitazone for conflict of interest. Dr Capuzzi was one of the panel members who voted to keep rosiglitazone on the market. However, several news organisations have reported that Dr Cauzzi has been a member of GSKs speakers’ bureau. BMJ 2010; 241:c4083 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3872746 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:08:50 +0100 3872746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726779&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F07%2F05%2Fus-senator-calls-for-tougher-rules-on-ghostwriting%2F Senator Charles Grasslet and the US senate committe on finance has called for tougher regulation on ghostwriting in medical journals. The report says that as journals influence prescribing, undisclosed funding by companies can lead to journals inadvertantly promoting sales of a company’s product. He goes on to state, that once strong policy is in place, the difficulty will be with compliance. BMJ 2010, 340, c3504 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726779 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:12:14 +0100 3726779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726780&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F07%2F05%2Fwho-conflicts-of-interests%2F There are two interesting letters in this week’s BMJ. The first is from Margaret Chan, director general of the WHO and the second from from Pim Kon, medical director of GSK. Both letters address the possible conflicts of interest in the WHO when making decisions on treatment for H1N1 pandemic flu. BMJ 2010; 340, c3463 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726780 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:08:25 +0100 3726780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683875&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F06%2F21%2Faccelerating-resistance-due-to-better-access-to-drugs%2F A new report published on 15th June by the Center for Global Development, shows that improving access to drugs treating malaria, HIV and TB is having an unintended effect of speeding up microbial resistance to drugs. They suggest better tracking of resistance is required, with strengthened regulation and accelerated development of new drugs. BMJ 2010; 340: c3234 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683875 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:45:55 +0100 3683875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683876&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F06%2F21%2Fwho-needs-to-tighten-rules-on-conflicts-of-interest%2F The WHO admits that its policies relating to the publishing of conflicts of interest are have inconsistencies and that safeguards need to be tightened. BMJ 2010; 340: c3167 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683876 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:41:59 +0100 3683876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3636024&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F06%2F07%2Freport-condemns-swine-flu-experts-ties-to-big-pharma%2F Scientists who drew up the key World Health Organisation guidelines advising governments to stockpile drugs in the event of a flu pandemic had previously been paid by drug companies which stood to profit, according to a report out today. An investigation by the British Medical Journal and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the not-for-profit reporting unit, shows that WHO guidance issued in 2004 was authored by three scientists who had previously received payment for other work from Roche, which makes Tamiflu, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), manufacturer of Relenza. City analysts say that pharmaceutical companies banked more than $7bn (£4.8bn) as governments stockpiled drugs. The issue of transparency has risen to the forefront of public health debate after dramatic predictions last year ... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3636024 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:31:44 +0100 3636024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607819&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F05%2F28%2Fmedicalisation-costs-77-billion-a-year-in-us%2F The direct cost of medicalisation of diseases such as anxiety disorders, behavioural disorders, body image, erectile dysfunction, infertility, obesity and sleep disorders has been found to be $77.1 billion per year in the US. BMJ 2010;340:c2779 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607819 Fri, 28 May 2010 09:53:10 +0100 3607819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595899&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F05%2F24%2Fbrazil-and-india-file-complaint-against-eu-over-seizure-of-generic-drugs%2F India and Brazil have filed complaints that in 2008 and 2009 EU customs authorities seized consignments of generic drugs on the grounds that the shipments were thought to infringe patent rights. Drugs that were seized included antiretroviral abacavir from India, bought on behalf of UNITAID and destined for Nigeria; olanzapine destined for Peru; losartan destined for Brazil and clopidogrel destined for Colombia. BMJ 2010; 340: c2672 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595899 Mon, 24 May 2010 19:25:57 +0100 3595899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542877&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F05%2F07%2Fastrazenica-pays-520m-fine-for-off-label-marketing%2F AstraZenica has agreed to pay $520m to settle allegations that it had marketed quetiapine for unapproved off-label uses. AstraZenica denied wrongdoing but signed the civil settlement with the US Department of Justice. AstraZenica was charged with the off-label advertising to doctors for aggression, Alzheimer’s, anger management, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disease, dementia, depression, mood disorders, PTSD and sleeplessness. BMJ 2010; 340: c2380 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542877 Fri, 07 May 2010 15:35:50 +0100 3542877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542878&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F05%2F07%2Feu-prepares-to-tackle-sales-of-counterfeit-drugs%2F The EU’s environment and public health committee is backing moves to tackle criminals exploiting gaps in current legislation. The new measures are likely to be approved by parliament in July and then will need to be approved by the 27 EU governments. BMJ 2010; 340:c2425 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542878 Fri, 07 May 2010 15:31:56 +0100 3542878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542880&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F05%2F07%2Fus-societies-are-urged-to-adopt-code-on-relations-with-industry%2F The US council of Medical Specialty Societies is calling on all medical societies to sign a code of ethics that would set standards for their relations with drug companies. 13 of the council’s 32 member societies have already signed up. BMJ 2010;340:c2246 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542880 Fri, 07 May 2010 09:43:06 +0100 3542880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542882&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F05%2F07%2Findia-eu-trade-deal-threatens-access-to-cheap-generic-drugs%2F A free trade agreement is being negotiated between India and the EU which could restrict access to generic drugs in the developing world. MSF outlines that India is  the source of 80% of antiretrovirals in developing countries. The draft agreement would strengthen intellectual property and enforcement, making access to affordable ARVs much more difficult. BMJ 2010;340:c2309 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542882 Fri, 07 May 2010 09:37:01 +0100 3542882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411286&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F03%2F26%2Fus-drug-manufacturers-will-have-to-disclose-payments-to-doctors%2F New law forcing pharmaceutical and device companies to disclose all payments to doctors look to be made in the US. The names of receiving doctors will be made accessible on the web, in an easily to understand format. BMJ 2010, 340 (7748), pp671 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411286 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:03:06 +0100 3411286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366431&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F03%2F15%2Fmep-plans-to-allow-patients-more-access-to-drug-information%2F A Swedish member of the European parliament, Christofer Fjellner, has acknowledged that he will be challenging many medical professionals in steering draft legislation through the parliament that would allow pharmaceutical companies to give more information to patients about prescription drugs. He said, “It is clear there are big cultural differences in Europe on the relationship between doctors and their patients. I will definitely challenge those who want doctors to retain a monopoly on information. But I will never challenge the doctor-patient relationship.” He intends to change the thrust of the draft legislation, which was drafted by the European Commission’s industry department but which is now the responsibility of its public health directorate general. When I work with the te... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366431 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:58:10 +0100 3366431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3231806&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F02%2F02%2Fgsk-makes-structures-of-potential-antimalarials-freely-available%2F GlaxoSmithKline has announced that it will make the chemical structures of 13 500 compounds with potential antimalarial activity freely available on scientific websites to encourage research into new drugs for malaria. For full article, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/jan25_2/c465. (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3231806 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:37:18 +0100 3231806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212604&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F27%2Findian-medical-council-sets-a-new-bar-in-medical-professionalism%2F The idea that the Western world is somehow more ‘advanced’ when it comes to issues of medical ethics and professionalism has been completely destroyed by the news that the Indian Medical Council will be introducing sweeping reforms of the rules governing industry relations. So how binding are these new regulations? A swift glance at the abstract, conveniently discussed here by Howard Brody on his brilliant ‘Hooked’ blog, shows just how major these changes are: No more gifts. Full stop. No specification on the price of gifts, meaning even gifts as small as pens and post-it notes are covered. To those who think this might be overkill, I suggest you read about the fascinating topic of Cognitive Dissonance. (I know, it’s a Wikipedia article, but it’s a re... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212604 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:55:54 +0100 3212604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3208689&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F26%2Fastrazeneca-suppressed-drug-test-data%2F The marketing team sued over a drug’s alleged side effects tried to suppress key data, an ex-employee has claimed. Seroquel’s former UK medical adviser told the BBC he was pressured to approve promotional material which said weight gain was not an issue. Maker AstraZeneca, which faces fresh legal action next month, said it took concerns about its conduct seriously. In the same programme, the British Medical Journal editor urged that the medicine licensing system be reviewed. Dr Fiona Godlee said industry should no longer provide the evaluations of its own drugs which the licensing body considered. For full article go to, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8478924.stm (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3208689 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:05:01 +0100 3208689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3205118&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F24%2Fwhy-pharmaceutical-companies-want-you-to-want-them%2F The lawyers and settlements blog has a great article that gives a good little synopsis of the arguments against direct-to-consumer advertising in the US, or as we call it in Europe, information to patients. It strikes me as an odd source for a feature on this blog, but I won’t let that get in the way of my enjoying a well written, rational article.While I highly recommend you go there and read it, here are a few of the main points made in the article: Industry spending on marketing went up from $11 billion in 1996 to $30 billion in 2005 Between 1999 and 2000, sales of advertised drugs increased by 24% (!!!), compared with just 4.3% for non-advertised drugs. Most interestingly, several states are proposing legislation that will curb direct to consumer advertising, or, at least, f... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3205118 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:35:41 +0100 3205118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201894&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F24%2Fnew-eu-health-chief-questions-plan-to-let-drug-industry-communicate-directly-with-patients%2F John Dalli, a former Maltese economy and social affairs minister, will have more influence over public health policy than any of his predecessors when he takes up his post as the European Union’s health commissioner next month. Mr Dalli has set out his priorities. He will press ahead with two relatively non-controversial pharmaceutical proposals already on the table: stepping up measures against counterfeit drugs and improving pharmacovigilance. But he expressed strong concerns about controversial plans to allow drug companies to communicate directly with the public by allowing companies, under certain conditions, to publish information on their products in newspapers and magazines. “We will reassess the package on information and bring more patient perspective to the proposal,&... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201894 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:57:38 +0100 3201894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201895&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F24%2Feuropean-commission-targets-drug-firms-over-illegal-patent-protection%2F The European Commission is stepping up pressure on drug companies it suspects of using illegal sweetener deals to protect their patents and prevent cheaper generic drugs from entering the market. Just three weeks before she is due to stand down as European Union Competition Commissioner, Neelie Kroes has asked several European companies to supply her staff with copies of their patent settlement agreements. The commission did not divulge the identities of the companies it had targeted. But several confirmed they had been contacted and asked to provide documentation, including annexes, of all agreements with generic drug producers concluded between 1 July 2008 and 31 December 2009. These included AstraZeneca plc, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, and Roche. For full article, go t... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201895 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:54:18 +0100 3201895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3194021&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F21%2Fwho-and-big-pharma-guilty-of-blackmail-and-extortion-in-swine-flu-fiasco%2F On January 25 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will launch an emergency inquiry regarding the influence of pharmaceutical companies on the global swine flu campaign. The inquiry will focus on the drug industry’s influence on the World Health Organization (WHO). The motion was introduced by Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, head of health at the Council of Europe, who has accused the makers of flu drugs and vaccines of influencing the World Health Organization’s decision to declare a pandemic. The motion has now been signed by 14 members from 10 countries sitting on the EU’s Health Committee, who are angry that nations all over the world, and particularly in Europe, have wasted scarce health funds on a contrived “pandemic.” The investigation is listed on the EU’... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3194021 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:06:45 +0100 3194021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178988&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Fharvard-tightens-rules-on-industry-payments-to-top-professors%2F Harvard University has tightened its regulations for doctors and scientists who consult for drug companies and medical device makers. Ties between prominent doctors and drug companies have been scrutinised lately, especially by Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican. About two dozen of Harvard’s highest flyers, those who sit on the boards of drug companies, are most affected. Under the rules, introduced on 1 January, they can earn no more than $5000 (£3100; 3440) per 10 hour day for service on the board of a drug or device company and may not accept company stock in payment. The rules also apply to about 6000 doctors, researchers, institutional officers, and other employees at Partners HealthCare, a Harvard affiliated healthcare group. Read article at http://www.bmj.com/cgi/conte... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178988 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:22:58 +0100 3178988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178990&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Fwho-vaccine-expert-had-conflict-of-interest-danish-newspaper-claims%2F Controversy has arisen at the World Health Organization after allegations that some WHO experts, including a leading vaccine adviser, have financial ties to the drug industry. Documents acquired through the Danish Freedom of Information Act by the Danish daily newspaper Information show that Juhani Eskola, a Finnish vaccines adviser on the WHO board, has received £5.6m (6.2m; $9m) for his research centre, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare. The money, from GlaxoSmithKline for research on vaccines during 2009, is the institute’s main source of income. Professor Eskola is the deputy director general of the institute and a member of WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), which advises member states on which vaccines to use and how much of t... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178990 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:19:23 +0100 3178990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178991&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Fpolitician-accuses-drug-companies-of-overplaying-dangers-of-h1n1%2F Drug companies are being accused of unnecessarily raising fears over the H1N1 swine flu virus so as to increase profits by boosting sales of their new vaccines. The allegations, made in the parliamentary assembly of the Strasbourg based Council of Europe, are surfacing as several countries, notably the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, are looking to dispose of excess supplies of the unwanted vaccines (BMJ 2010;340:c170, 11 Jan, doi:10.1136/bmj.c170). Wolfgang Wodarg, a German Social Democrat MP and chairman of the assembly’s health subcommittee, is, with the support of a cross party group of Council of Europe parliamentarians, pressing for a pan-European investigation into the role of the companies in the current pandemic. “We have twice had major alarms. The first was with ... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178991 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:18:19 +0100 3178991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142836&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2010%2F01%2F05%2Fconfidential-documents-from-who-rd-finance-group-industry-raise-concern%2F Confidential documents related to the World Health Organization Expert Working Group on innovative financing for research and development surfaced today, revealing the group’s thinking as well as pharmaceutical industry thinking about the WHO process. The documents immediately raised concern about possible undue access to the process by industry, but the WHO told Intellectual Property Watch the industry group was not supposed to have them. For full article go to http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/12/09/confidential-documents-released-fr%0Aom-who-rd-finance-group-pharmaceutical-industry/ (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142836 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:52:43 +0100 3142836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2883215&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F10%2F12%2Fabnormal-practice-of-relationship-between-manufacturers-of-medicines-and-some-part-of-medical-community-has-become-usual-in-russia-putin%2F The Prime-minister Vladimir Putin defined the situation when pharmaceutical giants pay health professionals for prescribing their medicines impossible to tolerate. At the meeting on development of pharmaceutical industry he noted, that “sometimes even the prescription forms, printed by supplier firms, are being used”. According to the Prime-minister, during the last decade “obviously abnormal practice of relationship between manufacturers of medicines, including foreign ones, and some part of medical community” has become usual in Russia. The Prime-minister noted that pharmaceutical companies have the right to advertise their products, but they have to do this in a civilized way and be fully compliant with universally recognized ethical norms and the Russian legisla... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2883215 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:15:51 +0100 2883215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2872054&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F10%2F07%2Fglaxosmithkline-sees-orders-for-swine-flu-vaccine-soar%2F Britain’s biggest pharmaceutical company today disclosed a big boost in orders for its swine flu vaccine as governments around the world build stockpiles ahead of the winter. GlaxoSmithKline, headed by chief executive Andrew Witty, revealed that the number of orders for its H1N1 vaccine had jumped by 50% to more than 400m since August, putting the company on course for a windfall worth about £3bn by the end of the year, according to City analysts. Witty has said that each vaccine will sell for close to £5 a shot, although the boost to GSK’s top line ignores production and research and development costs, so profits will be lower. But Kevin Wilson at Citigroup said that “pandemic sales should lead to potential earnings surprises through the fourth quarter of 2009 to the s... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2872054 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:34:39 +0100 2872054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842789&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Ffda-to-hold-public-hearings-on-big-pharmas-social-media-use%2F NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a two-day public hearing in November on how pharmaceutical companies use the web and social-media tools to market their products, the first step in a long overdue process that will finally establish guidelines for how drug makers proceed in a Web 2.0 world. The industry is embracing the news, despite the newfound regulatory heavy hand the FDA has shown under the Obama administration. “It’s about time,” said an executive for one top-five pharmaceutical company who asked not to be identified. “Any guidance at all is better than having no guidance, which is what we have right now.” Regulatory guidelines are now sorely lacking for direct-to-consumer spending by pharmaceutical companies us... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842789 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:32:27 +0100 2842789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842790&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Fwyeths-million-dollar-promotional-weekend%2F http://www.pharmainfocus.com.au/news.asp?newsid=2953 Posted 28 September 2009 Wyeth spent over $1 million on a single Australian weekend meeting on antidpressants in March this year shortly after the PBS listing of its new SSRI, Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) say new Medicines Australia (MA) records for spending on sponsored events. The company, which is continuing to mount a so far successful defence of its remaining patents on Australia’s biggest selling antidepressant Efexor-XR (venlafaxine), described the event as a “new anti-depressant overview weekend meeting” and said the money was spent on venue hire, hospitality, speaker fees, accommodations and flights and various technical support and event management fees. The occasion was a standout among 16,020 events sponsored by... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842790 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:31:25 +0100 2842790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842791&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Fmarch-to-more-pharma-transparency-just-got-faster%2F http://www.pharmainfocus.com.au/opinion.asp?opinionid=278 Last week was an important one for watchers of the continuing debate over pharmaceutical industry influence on medical and healthcare professionals. Developments overseas and in Australia showed that the march towards greater transparency is gaining pace. In the US, Merck has added its name to the list of major pharma companies that have voluntarily decided to publish payments made to doctors on their corporate websites. It joins Pfizer, Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline in either disclosing or pledging to disclose payments for such activities as consulting, speaking and writing. GSK has also said it will cap payments at US $150,000 to any one doctor. (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842791 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:30:36 +0100 2842791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814701&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F21%2Fpatent-pools-in-the-news%2F The recent buzz of coverage around the patent pool in the Guardian continues today with a letter to GSK and other Pharma companies from UNITAID. Original article in the Guardian on 6th September drawing attention to the CEO letter to GSK’s Andrew Witty: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/sep/06/glaxosmithkline-hiv-drugs-urged The article reiterated in an online Pharma news site and the ‘Mail and Guardian’ South African newspaper: http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/activists-ask-gsk-pool-hiv-patents/2009-09-08 http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-09-07-glaxosmithkline-urged-to-pool-its-patents-on-hiv-drugs GSK’s response regarding its engagement with UNITAID published in the Guardian on September 10th: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/sep/10/glaxosmithkline-hiv-aids-patents A... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814701 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:16:11 +0100 2814701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807880&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F18%2Fmedical-editors-push-for-crackdown-on-ghostwriting%2F The scientific integrity of medical research has been clouded in recent years by articles that were drafted by drug company-sponsored ghostwriters and then passed off as the work of independent academic authors. Yet the leading medical journals have continued to rely largely on an honor system of disclosure to detect such potential bias, asking authors to voluntarily report any industry ties or contributors to their manuscripts. But now, in light of recently released evidence that some drug makers have gone to great lengths to turn scientific articles into marketing vehicles for their products, some influential medical editors are cracking down on industry-financed ghostwriting. And they are getting help from some members of Congress. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/business/18ghost.html... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807880 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:57:12 +0100 2807880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786273&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F11%2Fkohl-hearing-considers-effects-of-billions-in-drug-device-funding-on-medical-education-in-america%2F WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) held a hearing on conflicts of interest in medical education.  In recent years, the pharmaceutical and medical device industries have increased their funding of Continuing Medical Education (CME), medical schools, and professional medical associations.  The industries also pay physicians directly for their service as educational consultants.  According to the Institute of Medicine, industry funding for accredited CME quadrupled from $302 million to $1.2 billion between 1998 and 2006. “Large corporations do not typically spend these sums unless they think they will get something out of it,” said Chairman Kohl.  ”Are the drug and device industries getting a return on their annual billion... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786273 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:16:42 +0100 2786273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782315&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F10%2Ffinancial-ties-that-threaten-health%2F Ray Moynihan has written an interested opinion piece in today’s Sydney Morning Herald. Have a read at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/contributors/financial-ties-that-threaten-health-20090909-fhl1.html?page=-1  (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782315 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:48:09 +0100 2782315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772719&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fcourt-documents-show-glaxo-used-caspper-the-friendly-ghostwriting-program-to-promote-paxil%2F Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline used a sophisticated ghostwriting program to promote its antidepressant Paxil, allowing doctors to take credit for medical journal articles mainly written by company consultants, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. An internal company memo instructs salespeople to approach physicians and offer to help them write and publish articles about their positive experiences prescribing the drug. Known as the CASPPER program, the paper explains how the company can help physicians with everything from “developing a topic,” to “submitting the manuscript for publication.” http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-glaxosmithkline-ghostwriting,0,7584289.story (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772719 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:19:20 +0100 2772719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772720&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fwyeth-ghostwriting-archive%2F In July 2009, a US federal court decision resulted in the release of approximately 1500 documents detailing how articles highlighting specific marketing messages written by unattributed writers, but “authored” by academics, are strategically placed in the medical literature - a practice known as ghostwriting. To release these documents, PLoS Medicine, represented by the public interest law firm Public Justice, and the New York Times, acted as “intervenors” in litigation against menopausal hormone manufacturers by women who developed breast cancer while taking hormones. PLoS Medicine argued that sealed documents identified during the discovery process for the court case, demonstrating the practice of ghostwriting, should be made available to the public. As PLoS Medic... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772720 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:17:40 +0100 2772720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772721&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fmedical-papers-by-ghostwriters-pushed-therapy%2F Newly unveiled court documents show that ghostwriters paid by a pharmaceutical company played a major role in producing 26 scientific papers backing the use of hormone replacement therapy in women, suggesting that the level of hidden industry influence on medical literature is broader than previously known. The articles, published in medical journals between 1998 and 2005, emphasized the benefits and de-emphasized the risks of taking hormones to protect against maladies like aging skin, heart disease and dementia. That supposed medical consensus benefited Wyeth, the pharmaceutical company that paid a medical communications firm to draft the papers, as sales of its hormone drugs, called Premarin and Prempro, soared to nearly $2 billion in 2001. The ghostwritten papers were typically review ... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772721 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:16:24 +0100 2772721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772722&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Feli-lilly-is-forced-to-publish-names-as-part-of-a-legal-settlement%2F Paying doctors for their expertise is perfectly legal and gets results: For every $1 paid to physicians, drugmakers see a return of $12 in prescription sales, according to industry analysts. But critics, including some leading members of Congress, say the relationships create an unnecessary conflict of interest and ultimately drive up health costs for patients. 6/9/9 One of the key health care overhaul bills being considered in Congress requires drug companies to begin reporting on their doctor compensation - with details as small as whom the firms give drug samples to - by March 2011. Facing increasing pressure, several drugmakers voluntarily have pledged to start reporting their financial relationships soon. Eli Lilly and Co. didn’t have a choice. The maker of Prozac, Cymbalta and ... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772722 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:09:20 +0100 2772722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772723&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fpfizer-agrees-record-fraud-fine%2F US drugmaker Pfizer has agreed to pay $2.3bn (£1.4bn) in the largest healthcare fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice. It comes after the firm was found to have illegally promoted four drugs for uses which had not been approved by medical regulators. A subsidiary of the firm pleaded guilty to misbranding drugs “with the intent to defraud or mislead”. US officials said Pfizer would have to enter a corporate integrity agreement. It will be subject to additional public scrutiny by requiring it to make “detailed disclosures” on its website. Pfizer’s general counsel said: “We regret certain actions taken in the past, but are proud of the action we’ve taken to strengthen our internal controls.”  BBC 2/9/9 http://news.bbc.co... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772723 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:07:20 +0100 2772723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766310&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F09%2F04%2Feu-divided-over-patient-information-proposals%2F Europe’s member states are at loggerheads over plans to relax current restrictions on pharma communicating with patients. The plans tabled by Commissioner Verheugen would allow pharma to communicate directly with patients via mediums like the internet, though through a strict vetting system. This would end current rules which outlaw any communication with patients, but Europe is deeply divided on the issue. The various governments divide into two broad camps  those who favour a more liberal approach to regulating pharmas communications, and those who demand more restrictions. The UK, Sweden, and Denmark are among the most prominent countries who want a more liberal approach, while Germany, France and Spain take a more conservative approach. The pharma industry’s European body ... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766310 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:55:25 +0100 2766310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719968&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F08%2F20%2Fpatients-are-turned-away-from-hiv-clinics-after-uganda-runs-out-of-antiretroviral-medicine%2F Ugandan government ministers have warned that the country is running out of AIDS drugs, blaming the global financial crisis and a successful testing policy. The health ministry says that only 190 000 patients are receiving antiretroviral drugs out of the 357 000 who qualify for them. The health minister, Stephen Malinga, blames the shortages on the global economic crunch; a successful testing regime that has led to a rise in the numbers of people with access to the drugs; and policy changes that have increased the number of people who qualify for the drug.BMJ , vol 339, 15/8/9, p364http://www.bmj.com/cgi/section_pdf/339/aug12_1/b3278.pdf (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719968 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:18:55 +0100 2719968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719969&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F08%2F20%2Feuropean-and-us-agencies-will-ensure-ethical-conduct-of-trials%2F The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) have will work together to ensure that clinical trials related to drug marketing applications in the USA and Europe are conducted “uniformly, appropriately, and ethically.”   The “good clinical practices initiative” is expected to strengthen safeguards for partici­pants in clinical studies. In a joint statement the EMEA and the FDA said that in most cases the same clini­cal trials are used to support applications to both agencies for approvals of new drugs. Many of the people participating in these clinical trials are recruited in Europe and the US. The statement says that US and EU regulators need to ensure that trials in their  BMJ , vol 339, 15/8/9, p362.http://www.bmj.com/cgi/section_pdf/33... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719969 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:18:36 +0100 2719969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458506&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fgive-blood-pressure-drugs-to-all%2F  Blood-pressure-lowering drugs should be offered to everyone, regardless of their blood pressure level, as a safeguard against coronary heart disease and stroke, researchers who conducted a meta-analysis of 147 randomized trials (comprising 958,000 people) conclude in the May 19 issue of BMJ.   “Guidelines on the use of blood-pressure-lowering drugs can be simplified so that drugs are offered to people with all levels of blood pressure,” write Drs Malcolm R Law and Nicholas Wald (Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, UK). “Our results indicate the importance of lowering blood pressure in everyone over a certain age, rather than measuring it in everyone and treating it in some.” “Whatever your bloo... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458506 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:40:00 +0100 2458506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424495&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F05%2F20%2Fsharing-medical-research-data-financial-conflicts-should-be-included-in-online-abstracts%2F There should be not only data transparency but also financial transparency.1 Most major medical journals have made financial disclosure mandatory. Yet, now that the internet allows free access to any biomedical abstract, readers of abstracts may be blinded to papers’ relevant financial disclosure unless they have a paid subscription to the journal. I reviewed the ICMJE uniform requirements, the author instructions for 20 journals, including the BMJ, JAMA, the nine current Archives journals, New England Journal of Medicine, and the Lancet journals. None of them required, recommended, or even mentioned financial disclosure for structured or unstructured abstracts. Thus, readers might think that there was no potential financial conflict of interest when one exists. This is particularly imp... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424495 Wed, 20 May 2009 06:17:03 +0100 2424495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2417157&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F05%2F19%2Fmerck-defends-vioxx-in-court-as-publisher-apologises-for-fake-journal%2F Merck has begun the defence of its anti-arthritis drug rofecoxib (Vioxx) in the Federal Court of Australia, amid revelations that it lobbied to quash similar legal action in Britain, and as a publisher apologised for a journal sponsored by the company. The United States based company is fighting a class action from more than 1000 Australians, led by Graeme Peterson, who had a heart attack in 2003 after taking rofecoxib for several years. Over the past month Mr Peterson’s lawyers have released many internal company documents showing, they claim, how Merck’s marketing tried to minimise safety concerns about the drug and to “neutralise” and “discredit” potential critics. They also say that the company created an entire medical journal that appeared to be a legiti... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2417157 Tue, 19 May 2009 07:26:55 +0100 2417157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2417158&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F05%2F19%2Fcanadian-media-company-demands-right-to-publish-direct-to-consumer-drug-advertising%2F A long legal battle over advertising drugs directly to consumers is drawing to a close in Canada’s Superior Court. The Canadian media giant Canwest is suing the federal government, claiming that the prohibition on advertising prescription drugs directly to the public is a contravention of the constitutional charter guaranteeing free speech. In a document tendered to the court Canwest’s legal team has described the prohibitions as “paternalistic and anachronistic.” It argues that “truthful, balanced and fair statements containing information that is useful to patients cannot be curtailed” under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The summary of the media company’s position, given in a 67 page “factum” provided to the court, is that the C... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2417158 Tue, 19 May 2009 07:25:38 +0100 2417158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2415799&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F05%2F16%2F22-member-states-of-the-eu-are-not-in-favour-of-the-information-to-patients%2F 22 member states of the EU are not in favour of the “information to patients” strand of the European Commission’s proposed package of new pharma legislation, and it is likely that it will not go ahead, industry officials revealed at the annual meeting of the European pharmaceutical industry association, … http://www.scripnews.com/scripnews/home/EU-member-states-do-not-support-information-to-patients-strand-of-pharma-package-142153?autnID=/contentstore/scripnews/codex/02672226-409d-11de-9dfd-67753736ef68.xml (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2415799 Sat, 16 May 2009 12:30:44 +0100 2415799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301636&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F04%2F03%2Fcardiologists-curtail-pharma-advertising%2F At a giant meeting of more than 20,000 cardiologists, nurses and industry types, something’s missing: the ads. It used to be that you could identify convention-goers by the drug advertisements that were plastered on their bags full of scientific abstracts, on the badges they wore around their necks and on the lanyards from which the badges hung. Doctors looked “kind of like a Nascar driver,” says Jack Lewin, the chief executive of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), which runs the meeting. “Things have changed,” he says. The ACC says it sacrificed nearly half a million dollars by getting rid of these ads. Last year, Pfizer paid $175,000 to get its cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor on the convention bags and another $70,000 to plaster Lipitor on the lanya... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301636 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:35:51 +0100 2301636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301637&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F04%2F01%2Fvioxx-maker-merck-and-co-drew-up-doctor-hit-list%2F AN international drug company made a hit list of doctors who had to be “neutralised” or discredited because they criticised the anti-arthritis drug the pharmaceutical giant produced. Staff at US company Merck &Co emailed each other about the list of doctors - mainly researchers and academics - who had been negative about the drug Vioxx or Merck and a recommended course of action. The email, which came out in the Federal Court in Melbourne yesterday as part of a class action against the drug company, included the words “neutralise”, “neutralised” or “discredit” against some of the doctors’ names. It is also alleged the company used intimidation tactics against critical researchers, including dropping hints it would stop funding to in... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301637 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:19:50 +0100 2301637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301638&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fradio-4-the-medicalisation-of-normality%2F http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jcjc5/The_Medicalisation_of_Normality/ (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301638 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:40:13 +0100 2301638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301639&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fdemocrats-target-deals-to-delay-generics%2F As part of its drive to cut health-care costs, the Obama administration wants to stop the payments pharmaceutical companies make to generic-drug makers to delay the launch of cheap copies. Wall Street Journal, 31/3/9 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123843757514670479.html (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301639 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:02:09 +0100 2301639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301641&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fjammed-by-jama%2F A few years ago, The Journal of the American Medical Association started publicly admonishing some authors who failed to disclose potential conflicts of interest with drug companies and other medical industries. That was a warning shot to those who ignored JAMA’s demands that such conflicts be voluntarily disclosed lest they taint the published research. You would think, given this hyper-aware atmosphere, that the editors of JAMA or any other major medical journal would welcome any help they could get in patrolling its authors’ conflicts. You would think that until you heard about Jonathan Leo, a professor of neuro-anatomy at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. Leo recently posted a letter on the Web site of the British Medical Journal that criticized a study abo... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301641 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:52:10 +0100 2301641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301642&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fnonprofit-hits-jama-editors-urges-inquiry%2F A nonprofit group that monitors industry links to medical research called for the suspension of the top two editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and an investigation into allegations that they threatened a researcher who criticized a study published in the journal. The Alliance for Human Research Protection, which is often critical of industry-academic ties, made the requests in a letter it sent Wednesday to the American Medical Association. The Wall Street Journal, 27/3/9. (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301642 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:50:45 +0100 2301642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301643&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fama-seeks-probe-of-journal-editors-actions%2F The American Medical Association is seeking an investigation of claims that editors of its leading medical journal threatened a whistleblower who pointed out a researcher’s conflict of interest. Editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association deny threatening a professor who raised concerns about a study author’s undisclosed financial link to a drug company when JAMA published the study last year. JAMA, like most leading medical journals, has a policy of noting scientists’ industry connections. According to the Wall Street Journal, JAMA editors threatened to ban the professor from their journal and ruin his medical school’s reputation if he didn’t stop talking to reporters. The editors deny that. But the flap prompted them to spell out what amounts ... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301643 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:49:31 +0100 2301643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301644&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F27%2Fan-insider%25e2%2580%2599s-view-of-the-drug-industry%2F Review of Drug Truths: Dispelling the Myths about Pharma R&D by John L LaMattina Drug Truths, written by a research chemist who spent his career with Pfizer, presents a view of the industry from inside these laboratories, far from the suit filled boardrooms where the business is conducted. Although he exchanged his white coat for a pinstripe suit as he moved during his career from the bench to become Pfizer’s president of global research and development, John LaMattina has not lost his awe and sense of wonder at the drug discovery business and breathlessly presents this side of the industry as he attempts to bust the so called myths that surround it. BMJ 2009;338:b1138 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301644 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:36:57 +0100 2301644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2301645&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F27%2Fus-sues-company-for-off-label-promotion%2F The United States Department of Justice filed a civil complaint last month against Forest Laboratories in a district court in Massachusetts, alleging that the company violated the federal False Claims Act. The department’s complaint says that the company marketed its antidepressants citalopram (marketed in the US as Celexa) and escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro) for use in children when the drugs were not approved for such use, that the company paid inducements to doctors to promote use of the drugs in children, that the company failed to disclose a study showing that Celexa was not effective in children, and that the government was defrauded of millions of dollars because federal health insurance programmes such as Medicaid paid for prescriptions for the drugs that were not covered by off-l... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2301645 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:26:13 +0100 2301645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2279756&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F19%2Fpharma%25e2%2580%2599s-facebook%2F Like most social-networking sites, Inspire.com is a place where users talk about the most intimate details of their lives. They want advice on coping with stage III cancer or to offer encouragement to a mother deciding about life support for her premature baby. But Inspire’s nearly 100,000 users aren’t just sharing with each other (and the 62 nonprofits who partner with the site), they’re also receiving targeted information from pharmaceutical companies who use the site as a recruiting tool for drug studies. www.newsweek.com/id/187882 10/3/9 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2279756 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:42:32 +0100 2279756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260897&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F13%2Finept-laboratory-work-botched-cancer-patients%25e2%2580%2599-results-inquiry-finds%2F Hundreds of patients in Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador province with breast cancer were given inaccurate results of oestrogen and progesterone receptor hormone testing in a wholesale failure of accountability and oversight at all levels of the healthcare system, an inquiry found this week. In the report Justice Margaret Cameron made 60 recommendations to ensure that what went wrong will not happen again, including more training for physicians, mandatory continuing education for laboratory technologists, and better record keeping. The health authority at the centre of the scandal has announced that it has hired a new chief executive officer, Vickie Kaminski, a veteran administrator accustomed to the glare of publicity. BMJ 13/3/9 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/mar09_2/b952... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260897 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:01:56 +0100 2260897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260898&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F13%2Faid-agencies-condemn-drug-confiscation%2F Aid agencies have condemned the Dutch government’s seizure of a shipment of antiretroviral drugs destined for sub-Saharan Africa, which they say flouts world trade rules and will put patients’ lives at risk. Oxfam International, Health Action International, and the World Health Organization say that the 50 kg consignment of abacavir should be released immediately, before the health of hundreds of Nigerian patients with AIDS or infected with HIV is affected. Dutch customs seized the drugs on their way from India in November at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, on suspicion that they might be counterfeit or have breached local intellectual property rights. BMJ 13/3/9 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/mar11_1/b1002 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260898 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:00:48 +0100 2260898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260899&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F12%2Froche-seals-47bn-genentech-deal%2F Drugs company Roche has agreed to merge with Genentech, and is to buy the remaining shares of the US firm for $46.8bn (£33.7bn). Roche already owned 55% of Genentech. The deal ends a long struggle between the two companies and is the latest merger in the pharmaceutical sector. The combined group will generate about $17bn in annual revenues and be the seventh-largest US drugs company. Much of Genentech’s revenue comes from cancer-related drugs. Roche expects the merger to generate annual pre-tax cost savings of about $750m to $850m. BBC News, 12/3/9 (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260899 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:39:54 +0100 2260899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260901&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F12%2Fdoctor-accused-of-faking-pain-pill-data%2F A Massachusetts anesthesiologist has been accused of faking data for a dozen years in 21 published studies that suggested after-surgery benefits from painkillers including Vioxx and Celebrex. Dr. Scott Reuben, who is on leave from Springfield’s Baystate Medical Center, studied the use of several drugs to relieve pain and speed recovery after surgery. The hospital said a routine review in May found that some of Reuben’s research was not approved by an internal hospital review board. Further investigation found 21 papers published in anesthesiology journals between 1996 and 2008 in which Reuben made up some or all data. Hospital officials said Reuben did not admit to the fabrications. MSNBC 11/3/9 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29635173/ (Source: PharmAware Blog) PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260901 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:56:37 +0100 2260901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2241926&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F06%2Forganisations-question-ec-changes-on-drug-information-for-patients%2F Medical and consumer organisations are raising concerns about plans by the European Commission to allow drug companies to provide information on prescription only drugs directly to the public. The drug industry is also questioning how the system would work in practice. The initial reactions to measures that would allow drug companies to supply factual information on prescription only drugs to the public emerged last week at a conference in Brussels organised by the European Commission and the Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs. The draft legislation, tabled last December, covers the type of information that may be given; the channels through which it may be supplied; the quality criteria and conditions to be met; the monitoring mechanisms to be put in place; and the san... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2241926 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:33:26 +0100 2241926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234596&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F05%2Fsenator-asks-pfizer-about-harvard-payments%2F Senator Grassley on Tuesday asked the drug maker Pfizer to provide details of its payments to at least 149 faculty members at Harvard Medical School. The senator, an Iowa Republican who is investigating the drug industry’s influence on the practice of medicine, also asked for any Pfizer e-mail, faxes, letters or photos regarding Harvard medical students who have protested drug company influence. Mr. Grassley, in a letter to Pfizer, wrote that he was “greatly disturbed” to read an article in The New York Times on Tuesday describing a Pfizer representative taking cellphone photos of the medical students last October at a campus demonstration against industry influence. “I find this troubling as I have documented several instances where pharmaceutical companies have attempted to inti... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234596 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:15:46 +0100 2234596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234597&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F05%2Fapology-for-misleading-drug-claims%2F Eli Lily has mailed an apology to all Australian doctors after being caught out making misleading claims about a controversial new anti-depressant.Duloxetine, sold as Cymbalta, went on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme last July despite official warnings linking it to suicide and liver damage. It has been prescribed more than 82,000 times since, 23,000 in Victoria alone. A Medicines Australia review has found that Eli Lilly made a “concerted effort” at the time of the PBS listing to spruik “off-label” use of the drug at up to twice the approved dose, as a treatment for physical pain associated with depression. In January in the US, the company agreed to pay a $US1.42 billion settlement over its marketing of the anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa after pleading guilty to a... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234597 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:10:28 +0100 2234597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234598&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F04%2Fchinese-move-marks-globalisation-of-bayer-schering-rd%2F Bayer Schering Pharma’s plan to build a 100 million-euro R&D centre in Beijing marks the company’s first major foray into China and is intended as a base camp for further expansion in the fast-growing Asian market. China has been a hot location for pharmaceutical companies for some years, initially as a location for pharmaceutical production but increasingly for clinical and other R&D functions as well. For Bayer Schering, China is the third country it has chosen to site an R&D hub in - after existing sites in Germany (at Berlin and Wuppertal) and in the USA (Berkeley). Merck, Lilly and Johnson & Johnson are among other big pharma companies that have gone down the route of globalising their R&D. A report published last year by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Fo... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234598 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:45:33 +0100 2234598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234599&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F04%2Fharnessing-the-crowd-to-make-better-drugs-merck%25e2%2580%2599s-friend-nails-down-5m-to-propel-new-open-source-era%2F Biology has never really had a social-networking movement like open-source computing, where thousands of loosely-affiliated people around the world pool brainpower to make better software. If Merck’s Stephen Friend gets his way, about five years from now, he will have ushered in a new era in which biologists work together to make drugs that are better than any company can today inside its walls. Friend, 54, is leaving his high-profile job as Merck’s senior vice president of cancer research, after having nailed down $5 million in anonymous donations to pursue this vision at a nonprofit organization getting started in Seattle called Sage, Xconomy has learned. I heard about this potentially transformative idea during a phone conversation a couple days ago with Friend and his co-founder fr... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234599 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:43:12 +0100 2234599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234601&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F03%2F02%2Fdocs-propose-new-info-box-for-drug-ads%2F Dr. Steven Woloshin and Dr. Lisa Schwartz of Dartmouth University say that the answer for many people is “far too little.” And they hope that a new study, which they plan to present to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today, will result in the addition of an easily comprehensible box of information on the benefits and risks of a drug to its direct-to-consumer advertisements. In a report slated for publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine April 21, Woloshin and Schwartz study the effects of a “drug facts box” on consumer understanding of the medicine. The informational box outlines in plain terms the risks and benefits of a particular drug. It was printed on consumer-targeted advertisements for the drugs and displayed numerical tables that showed the bene... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234601 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:56:04 +0100 2234601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234604&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F02%2F25%2Fgsk-promises-to-cap-price-of-its-drugs-in-poorest-countries%2F GlaxoSmithKline has unveiled a series of policies to boost access to its drugs in poorer and richer countries alike (www.gsk.com/media/Witty-Harvard-Speech-Summary.pdf). In a speech at Harvard Medical School last week, Andrew Witty laid out his approach for the first time since taking over as the company’s chief executive last spring, saying: “Society expects us to do more . . . To be frank, I agree. We have the capacity to do more and we can do more.” He pledged to cap the prices of GSK’s drugs in the world’s 50 poorest countries at a quarter of their cost in the United States and Europe. He also promised to reinvest 20% of any residual profit earned in these “least developed countries” in healthcare infrastructure including clinics, distribution systems, an... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234604 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:55:54 +0100 2234604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234605&cid=t_104994_150_f&fid=37000&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmawareblog.co.uk%2F2009%2F02%2F25%2Fbayer-to-spend-20m-to-correct-misleading-advertising-for-oral-contraceptive-yaz%2F Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals has agreed to spend $20m (£14m; 15.6m) to correct misleading direct to consumer advertising of its birth control pill Yaz (drospirenone and ethinylestradiol), the most popular birth control pill in the United States, with sales of about $616m last year. The corrective advertisements began running last month and will continue through June, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. Bayer reached an agreement with the FDA and 27 state attorneys general, led by Bill McCollum, the Florida attorney general. The agreement follows a warning letter sent to Bayer in October by Thomas Abrams, the director of the FDA’s division of drug marketing, advertising, and communications. It adds new requirements to a 2007 agreement about problems related to Bayer’s ... PharmAware Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234605 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:53:28 +0100 2234605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947126&cid=t_104994_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fdisability-discrimination-in-australia.html This past week, a German physician living and working in Australia was denied permanent residency due to the fact that his 13-year-old son with Down's Syndrome does not meet alleged health requirements for citizenship. Citing the potential cost of the child's future medical care, the Australian immigration authority denied that this is a case of discrimination based on disability.The case has sparked a veritably international outcry, and the boy's parents---Bernhard and Isabella Moeller---vow to appeal the case to the highest court in the country.Apparently, Dr. Moeller was aggressively recruited to live and work in Victoria, a rural section of Australia which is currently experiencing a severe shortage of primary care physicians. Taking into consideration the relatively disastrous impact ... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947126 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:50:00 +0100 1947126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1033466&cid=t_104994_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Ftrouble-in-serbia.html A report released this week by Mental Disability Rights International demonstrates that children and adults in Serbian psychiatric facilities are living in squalid and unhealthy conditions, with patients frequently physically restrained for years at a time, often in their own excrement. With poor sanitation and common communicable diseases inadequately controlled, patients within the Serbian psychiatric healthcare system are suffering in a potentially unparalleled manner. Taking into consideration the extent to which American psychiatric patients and consumers of mental health services feel rightfully disenfranchised within our system here in the US, the atrociousness of care in Serbian facilities is "tantamount to torture" according to the MDRI report.Although the Serbian government was q... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1033466 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:51:00 +0100 1033466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=918876&cid=t_104994_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Floss-on-global-scale.html No doubt that most readers of Digital Doorway have by now heard about the brutal crackdown on Burmese activists calling for democracy and freedom in Burma. As has occurred in many countries throughout history, religious leaders are leading the fight for democratic reforms through non-violent means. Following the historical precedents set by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King in India and the United States, Burmese monks have led the charge in that country, many even today suffering torture, persecution, and murder in payment for their public demonstrations of dissent.As of today, Burma's only Internet server has been shut down, independent sources of media have been forced to cease operations, and possibly hundreds of demonstrators have been killed in the last week, including many monks... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=918876 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:58:00 +0100 918876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=758643&cid=t_104994_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fthere-but-for-grace-of-goddess.html When I heard today that six Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor were freed after eight years of captivity in Libya, my first thought was "where have I been and why haven't I heard about this before?" My next thought was, "There but for the grace of God(dess) go I."Sentenced to death for blatantly false charges of deliberately infecting more than 400 Libyan children with HIV, the seven have been sitting in a Libyan jail since 1999, sentenced to death for their "crime".No matter that world-renowned AIDS experts confirmed that the strain of HIV identified in the hospital where the seven hostages had worked existed in the hospital long before the seven ever set foot on Libyan soil. No matter that generous healthcare workers roam the world assisting those in need in war-torn and fami... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=758643 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:52:00 +0100 758643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486720&cid=t_104994_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomensbioethics.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fpoland-launches-pro-family-programme.html Several news sources are reporting that Poland is launching a fertility drive aimed at increasing its shrinking population. Poland ranks at the bottom of the EU's birth rate of 1.22 children per women, and some analysts suggest that by 2030, there will be four million fewer Poles, leading to economic disaster and worker shortage. Now you would think that, as a very Catholic country, family would be incredibly important. In fact, having a family does consistently rank as one of the most important things in the lives of the Poles, er, poled. So we have a very Catholic, pro-family country with a rapidly declining birth rate - obviously there's an issue somewhere. As it turns out, that issue is in how Polish women are treated in the workplace. A majority of women are afraid that they'll lose t... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486720 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 06:04:00 +0100 486720