GAO: Clinical trials for seniors' drugs fail to include enough...seniors!

The Government Accountability Office released a report today, finding that "in several key areas, FDA rules for drug approval fail to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of drugs for seniors." Among the problems identified: Inclusion of seniors in

John Edwards' proposals on drug advertising -- what will they actually do?

Yesterday, Democratic presidential contender John Edwards announced a set of proposals to "Stop Misleading Drug Marketing By Standing Up To Drug Companies." We're glad to see these proposals, not necessarily for their specifics as such (more on that late

Chain pharmacies sue Abbott over Norvir AIDS drug price increase

Readers of this blog have previously read about a lawsuit brought by PAL member Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Health and Welfare Fund against Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), charging that Abbott's unconscionable 400+% price increase of the

Go Red Sox!

Even we prescription drug policy geeks here at PAL have to take a break occasionally... And we're located in Boston, so we have to give props to our Hometown Team, who last night won Game 2 in the World Series, against the Colorado Rockies. Go Sox! Le

Swedish Pharma Exec: No Thanks on Drug Ads to Consumers

Courtesy of the indefatigable Peter Rost at BrandweekNRx: So this week I participated in a hearing in the Swedish Parliament on more effective use of pharmaceuticals. Anders_lif_23I wasn't the only one presenting, Anders Blanck, the deputy CEO of LIF/PhR

Lunesta ad parody - very funny

Speaking of Lunesta (see yesterday's Most memorable drug ads — but what do viewers remember?), here's a very funny parody of the ubiquitous Lunesta "luna moth" ads (yes, it's not a butterfly, it's a luna moth). I believe this is from Saturday Night Live.

Congrats to PAL member UFT Welfare Fund -- 28,000 home child care workers join UFT

PAL offers its hearty congratulations to the United Federation of Teachers and to the UFT Welfare Fund (the latter a member of the PAL coalition). 28,000 New York City home-based child care providers overwhelmingly voted to form a union with the United F

Most memorable drug ads -- but what do viewers remember?

Yesterday IAG Research released "the latest syndicated data for the most memorable new prescription drug ads launched during the 2006/2007 TV season." The results were not surprising -- some of the drug ads that many of us love to hate topped the list for

PAL member ACAP calls for extending federal drug rebates to Medicaid Managed Care Organizations

The Association of Community-Affiliated Plans, a member of the PAL coalition, released a study yesterday showing that Medicaid managed care health plans that manage their members prescriptions have higher rates of generic usage and better coordination of