HEALTH: Science for Sale?

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

 

Did everyone catch NOW with Bill Moyers this week? He did a great

segment about drug companies and advertising called Science for Sale? -

it's about how advertising agencies are " buying or investing in

companies engaged in the actual science of drug development, including

organizing clinical trials. Some ad agencies also own companies that

ghostwrite scientific journals and design medical education courses " .

 

Follow this link to read the transcript if you missed it...

 

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_scienceforsale.html

 

Peace!

 

Mouse

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Science for Sale?: Overview

 

Until recently, prescription drug companies promoted their products

exclusively to healthcare professionals. Less than 20 years ago,

manufacturers began to produce ads targeted to consumers. The question

of whether direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs is

good or bad for the public has been frequently debated in the medical

community. In a PREVENTION magazine story published in 2001, 32 percent

of consumers who have seen a DTC advertisement have talked with their

doctor about an advertised medicine. Some doctors argue that

direct-to-consumer advertising makes consumers aware of their options,

educates the public about drug side effects and informs them about new

treatments. On the other side, doctors opposed to DTC drug advertising

complain that these ads intentionally blur the distinction between (1)

providing educational information to promote better healthcare and (2)

seeking profits.

 

SCIENCE FOR SALE? examines the role that advertising agencies are now

taking in prescription drug development. This practice of conducting

studies and recruiting patients builds a relationship between the ad

agency interested in landing a campaign and the drug makers even before

they receive FDA approval for their product.

 

These new developments in the pharmaceutical industry have made it more

important than ever for consumers to talk to their doctors and

pharmacists about their prescriptions and to educate themselves about

using medications wisely.

 

Sources: American Council on Science and Health and U.S. Food and Drug

Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

 

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_scienceforsale.html