Despite the ban on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines, drug companies have plenty of sneaky tricks up their lab-coat sleeves to keep their products in the public eye, writes Dr Agnes Vitry.
Drug companies
The man who blew the whistle on Pfizer
For fraudulently promoting painkiller Bextra, drug behemoth Pfizer has had to pay out $US2.3 billion. NPR interviews ex-Pfizer sales rep turned whistleblower John Kopchinski who will now get millions under an “informer law”.
Baker drug deal found in breach
For every Plavix script in 2009, Sanofi-Aventis agreed to donate 25 cents to support the Baker’s research and health programs. Upshot? A slap on the wrist and a $25,000 fine.
Drug reps given cheat sheets
Documents tendered to the Federal Court reveal Merck armed its sales team with “objections handling” cards to allay any concerns over the anti-arthritis drug Vioxx, despite research showing an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
Never mind the politicians, what about funded trips for doctors?
Amidst all the public angst about politicians accepting trips and other gifts, these practices continue unabated amongst the medical profession, writes Melissa Sweet.
Medicines Australia: Time for a crackdown on junkets
There is no reason why appropriate standards of conduct should not be enforceable for all pharmaceutical companies, writes Ian Chalmers.
Drug industry fines itself $2 million
Why drug companies have little to fear from industry regulation. Ray Moynihan writes.
Popular bone drug may cause fractures for some women
A new study suggests that the widely used anti-osteoporosis drug, Fosamaxin, may cause fractures, rather than prevent them, writes Ray Moynihan.
How Gardasil hype undermined the PBAC
The PBAC originally decided against subsidising Gardasil. Then the media stepped in, writes Dr Agnes Vitry.
Breast cancer media frenzy anything but helpful
The media may have presented an overly optimistic view of the benefits of breast cancer drug Herceptin, writes Sally Crossing.
Global PR firm outed as force behind blood clot awareness campaign
The international PR firm Fleishman-Hillard, working with drug company money, is helping run a high-profile campaign to raise public awareness about blood clots in Australia, reports Ray Moynihan.
Senior doctors “selling” drugs for $5000 a day
A long time drug industry insider in the United States says leading specialists can earn up to $5000 a day, for “educating” their peers on behalf of Big Pharma, writes Ray Moynihan.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Drug company-funded guidelines in hospitals … World Youth Day … food pricing … petrol … 2020 Summit … Harry Potter … Indigenous Australia …
Public hospital “guidelines” funded by drug maker
The push for widespread use of an anti-blood clot drug has been described as “scandalous,” writes Ray Moynihan.
Crikey scoop: Queensland Uni succumbs to drug company pressure
Senior academics are outraged that the University of Queensland has asked an academic to apologise to a drug company, reports Melissa Sweet.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Betfair … Earth Hour - the good, the bad and the ugly … surging rice prices and Cambodia … the UN Security Council … electoral funding in NSW …
Tips and rumours
In regards to the article “Drug industry reveals its daily orgy of wining and dining”, I’m not sure if you realise or not but this is not confined to the pharmaceutical market, the device companies do this too, the orthopedics market is the worst with doctors regularly demanding overseas airfares and holidays for their entire […]
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Earth Hour … The 2020 Summit … Doctors and the drug industry … Arukun and The Australian … Rudd and Blairite spin … Rundle on George W. Bush …
Pharmacists sign with Big Pharma to promote anti-fat drug
The controversial anti-fat drug Xenical has been given a new lease of life, with the announcement of a special financial arrangement between pharmacists and Swiss drug giant Roche, writes Ray Moynihan.
Drug industry reveals its daily orgy of wining and dining
The “education” of doctors is a $60 million a year dining experience and drug companies are picking up the tab. Ray Moynihan reports.
How to disentangle doctors and drug companies
Apart from the benefactors and beneficiaries, few will anymore try and defend the way drug companies wine and dine our doctors. Around the globe the public debate is finally moving away from what’s wrong with the duchessing of doctors, to what on earth we can do about it.
Time to name names at doctor-drug company nosh-ups
Drug companies will now have to disclose the details of all their wining and dining of doctors, but we still won’t know the names of the doctors who attend these drug company events.
