|
Pfizer Gives Away $2.7 Billion in Free Samples
It appears that free drug samples are being handed out in astonishing numbers. Documents released as part of a government effort to track industry marketing trends shows that Pfizer stands significantly above the crowd in the value of free samples being handed out. New York-based Pfizer gave out $2.7 billion in drug samples in 2007. Another 52 million samples, worth an estimated $64 million, were handed out by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, acquired last year by Pfizer.
Merck ranks a distant second to Pfizer in the value of free samples given out, at $356 million. Other large drug companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, and Roche have not yet reported the value of free samples. Analyses have previously estimated this is an $18 billion-a-year practice.
The practice of handing out samples has become somewhat controversial, with critics saying that they induce doctors and patients to choose pricier new meds over cheaper alternatives. Studies have also revealed that wealthier people with health insurance are more likely to receive free samples than the poor who might benefit the most. Another study in 2008 questioned the premise of free samples saving patients money, saying that the freebies actually led to higher out-of-pocket costs-40 percent more during the time samples were given out and 20 percent more even after the freebies stopped.
http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=710251&categoryid=9&newsletter=1
Drug Companies Cause Water Pollution
The U.S. Geological Survey says it has identified pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as significant sources of surface water pollution. The study, conducted in cooperation with New York state officials, focused on outflow from two wastewater treatment plants that receive more than 20 percent of their wastewater from pharmaceutical facilities. Researchers found concentrations of pharmaceuticals up to 1,000 times higher than from outflows at 24 wastewater plants nationwide that do not receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=709908&categoryid=9&newsletter=1
WHO, PHARMA Interests and the H1N1 Flu
The head of the World Health Organization strongly rejected suggestions that her decisions about swine flu were influenced by advisers' links to pharmaceutical companies. "At no time, not for one second, did commercial interests enter my decision-making," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said. She also dismissed claims that the global health body had stirred unnecessary public fear over the pandemic.
The way that WHO handled the outbreak is being reviewed by a 29-member expert panel that will report its findings next year. Critics say many of the panelists are also WHO advisers and government employees and could whitewash any failures. Scientists who advised Chan on the threat posed by swine flu have never been identified, and WHO said they will only be released once the pandemic is declared over.
A report by the Council of Europe said the public health guidelines by WHO, European Union (EU) agencies, and national governments led to a "waste of large sums of public money and unjustified scares and fears about the health risks faced by the European public." The report by the EU's human rights watchdog said decisions about the outbreak were poorly explained and not sufficiently transparent.
http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=709907&categoryid=9&newsletter=1
Ranbaxy Questioned for Bypassing Independents from Valacyclovir
Two members of Congress are seeking a federal investigation of Ranbaxy's decision to delay sales of its generic version of Valtrex (valacyclovir) to independent pharmacies. In December, 2009, Ranbaxy won the right from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market generic Valtrex without competition for 180 days by virtue of having its application approved first after GlaxoSmithKline's patent expired.
Ranbaxy chose to distribute valacyclovir solely through certain chain drug stores, refusing to sell it through thousands of community pharmacies and other highly efficient distribution channels. Ranbaxy's decision will lead to higher prices and less access, especially for Medicare and Medicaid patients, and the FTC has been asked to investigate.
http://www.ncpanet.org/leggovaffairs/index.php#ftc
Drug Errors Peak in July When New Docs Start
Fatal medication errors in U.S. hospitals peak in July; is this possibly because of the inexperience of new medical residents? Thousands of new physicians begin their medical residencies in July, and those first weeks may be a dangerous time for patients in teaching hospitals, suggest researchers at the University of California, San Diego. Using 244,388 death certificates issued between 1979 and 2006 that listed medication error as the primary cause of death, the team analyzed them in detail.
The outcome of this study may be a re-evaluation of responsibilities assigned to new residents, increasing supervision of new residents, and increasing education concerned with medication safety.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20100604/hl_hsn/drugerrorspeakinjulywhennewdocsstart
Pfizer Recalls IV Antibiotics, Nausea Medications
Pfizer has issued a recall of the antibiotics metronidazole and ciprofloxacin and its drug, ondansetron, used to treat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy or surgery. The products in question are supplied in plastic IV bags. The FDA has received reports of floating particulates in Claris-made metronidazole IV bags, including one report of the presence of Cladosporium mold, the agency stated. IV bags of ondansetron and ciprofloxacin are produced on the same manufacturing line as the metronidazole, according to the FDA.
No customer complaints have been received, but they are closely monitoring its patient database for any safety concerns. Products affected are sold under the Claris, Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals labels, the FDA advised.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65268C20100603
The FDA Warns Pfizer for Unreported Drug Complaints
In a warning letter, federal regulators warned Pfizer for failing to promptly report complaints with its drugs that may have involved serious injury. The letter cites a number of product complaints which were not reported to government regulators within the required 15 days, and, in some cases, the adverse events were not reported at all, including reports of serious side effects with the cholesterol drug Lipitor and the antiseizure drug Lyrica. Pfizer has previously told regulators it would revamp its file tracking system and retrain employees. However, the FDA states that those efforts have been shown to be ineffective.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/06/09/general-health-care-us-pfizer-fda-warning_7675601.html
| 
