People hate Big Pharma.
That's a pretty strong statement but I'm sure there are a large number of people out there who would agree.
Sure, the pharmaceutical companies have given us some important drugs; however the good majority of drugs on the market are not particularly helpful to us, the end-user. In fact, a lot of side-effects and serious adverse event potential often outweighs the benefits of the new drugs, which apparently are not that much more, if at all, effective than something currently on the market.
It costs a pharmaceutical company over a billion dollars to get one drug all the way to "near acceptance" by the governmental body that controls drugs (FDA in USA, PMDA in Japan, SFDA in China, etc.) The majority of drugs are rejected, leading the makers to have huge losses that deeply affect their shareholder value. This causes added pressure to make up for the losses, so the spiral continues to spin downward and downward. They have to make up the loss so they do their best to market the drugs and make back as much money as they can. Often, to do this, they misrepresent the drugs by downplaying the side effects when the salesforce explains it to doctors. Then doctors who are too busy to do their own research take that info, believe it ("silly rabbi, kicks are for trids!"), and further misrepresent the drugs to us, making us believe that we can benefit from them. (The drugs used for the pappiloma virus these days is one such drug; it is touted as a cervical cancer preventio
n when that is absolutely NOT the case - research that on the net if you like).
"An analysis by Donald Light of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, [shows evidence] that about 85 percent of new drugs offer few if any new benefits, according to independent reviewers. Furthermore, the side effects or misuse of meds make prescription drugs a significant cause of death in the U.S."
Here is a refreshing report in Science Daily, that brought about this thought today:
"Pharmaceuticals: A Market for Producing 'Lemons' and Serious Harm, Analysis Finds"
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100817111825.htm
Have a great day!
I have often thought that too !!! We are so afraid to try something new because of what has been drilled into our heads. I take some meds and some days I wonder if they are the thing that makes me feel ill.
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