The RxP Weekly Reader #2
Psych task force issues primer on industry influence
A task force at the American Psychological Association assigned to look at the role of external funding on the profession's mission came back this week with a serious report and tough recommendations o
FDA to Drug Advertisers: That'll be $41,000, please.
Critics of drug ads have been calling for restrictions ever since the ads hit the airwaves back in 1997. The pharmaceutical industry has always been able to block any Congressional attempts at putting meaningful regulation into place. This past year, a
Pharmalot's first year: a conversation with Ed Silverman
When I spoke with him last week, Ed Silverman was in transit, taking the train into midtown for a meeting. I asked Silverman, the man behind the pharmaceutical news megablog Pharmalot, if he usually blogs on the train, and he said yes, when the signal p
The RxP Weekly Reader comes to PostScript #1
Ta-da!
The Prescription Project Weekly Reader, a weekly email of pharma/conflict-of-interest news in review, is moving to PostScript, where it will appear every Friday, rain or shine.
If you have been receiving the Weekly Reader by email, we invite you
PAL member Breast Cancer Action declares victory as FDA denies approval for Avastin as a breast cancer treatment
PAL coalition member Breast Cancer Action today issued a statement on the FDA's denial of Genentech's [NYSE:DNA] application to have its drug Avastin approved for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Avastin is currently approved for treatment of metas
FDA proposes to pad drug reps' briefcases with off-label studies
This week, the FDA issued a draft guidance that could, if adopted, change the contents of the drug rep’s briefcase. It will free up the industry to distribute studies of drugs for off-label indications. That's a concern.
Of course, many off-label uses a
LA Times addresses Riegel v. Medtronic case and "preemption" issues
The LA Times ran an article today, High court may bar claims for FDA-approved drugs, discussing two cases that are currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. The cases address whether lawsuits that are based on on state common law claims alleging that patie
Montel Williams "blows up" at High School student asking about drug prices
The Savannah Morning News reported on Saturday that Montel Williams verbally threatened three of its reporters following a Partnership for Prescription Assistance event in Savannah, including a high school student intern:
Television talk-show host Montel
FDA in crisis, can't do its job, say FDA advisers
The New York Times ran an article on Saturday on a reported written on the state of the FDA by 3 members of the F.D.A. Science Board. According to the article, the report concludes that:
over the last two decades, the agency’s public health responsibili