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Editorial: "The Priceless Ingredient"
In 1921, Dr. E.R. Squibb coined the slogan: "The priceless ingredient in every product is the honor and integrity of its maker."
Edward Robinson Squibb, MD, a young U.S. Navy physician (1819-1900), was so disappointed by the quality of medicines available on ships during the Mexican War that he tossed the unfit drugs overboard. He founded his own pharmaceutical laboratory in Brooklyn, New York in 1858 dedicated to the production of consistently pure medicines.
In 1905, the prototype of the Squibb pillars or columns logo was designed. The logo represented product uniformity, purity, efficacy, and reliability based on research. Throughout the years, there have been many good, quality, ethical pharmaceutical companies.
It is interesting that during the early and mid-1900s the companies were primarily owned and operated by families, physicians, pharmacists, etc.; profits went to the families and/or owners. When "corporate America" came in and many of these companies became large corporations run primarily by marketing, economists, administrators, etc. and became more responsible to the "shareholders," things seem to have changed. They now have to make a large profit to pay the shareholders, not just the small number of families/owners as it used to be. The upper management seems more intent on gaining more power through acquisitions, questionable ethical decisions, dishonesty, and a very strong profit motive. Anyone reading this newsletter over the last few years should be well aware of the disregard the companies have for pharmacists, patients, etc., and are extremely self-serving!
Where pharmacists have been and remain among the most trusted professionals, the pharmaceutical industry has lost a lot of ground with their actions over recent years.
The question remaining today is what has happened to "the priceless ingredient" in the pharmaceutical industry?
Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph.
Editor-in-Chief
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Pharma Firms Threaten Drug Supplies to Greek Hospitals Due to Debt
Hospitals in Greece face dwindling supplies of medicines because Greece's debt-laden government has fallen so far behind on payments to foreign pharmaceutical companies that they are withholding delivery of some drugs.
Roche, a Swiss drug giant, has already stopped delivering medicines to public hospitals that haven't paid their bills. Others have threatened to do likewise if the situation worsens there. Big Pharma is now sending out the debt collectors to the hospitals in Greece.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110621-710607.html
FDA Approves Ointment for Chronic Anal Fissure Pain
The FDA has approved nitroglycerin ointment 0.4% (Rectiv) for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with chronic anal fissures; a preparation that has been compounded for many years. This ointment will be the only FDA-approved prescription product for patients with this condition, according to the company.
https://login.medscape.com/login/sso/getlogin?urlCache=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tZWRzY2FwZS5jb20vdmlld2FydGljbGUvNzQ1MTE4&ac=401
FDA Says It Needs New Approach on Imports
Border and port inspections are inadequate to confirm that imported food and drugs consumed by U.S. residents are safe. The FDA has presented a plan to monitor the rising tide of goods from abroad, including planned partnerships with counterpart regulators in other countries and better data-sharing between those regulators.
Food and drug imports have increased dramatically in the past ten years, growing from 6 million to 24 million shipments to the U.S. this year. Imports of FDA-regulated products are growing at an estimated 15% annual rate.
The FDA now has three locations in China, has formed some alliances with other regulators, and has received new powers under the food-safety law enacted this year. But the Agency says it lacks resources to inspect drug and food production sites overseas.
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2011/06/20/fda-says-it-needs-new-approach-on-imports/?mod=WSJBlog&mod=WSJ_health
FDA Clears Painkiller Oxecta
The FDA has approved an oxycontin-type product that is designed to be harder to abuse. Oxecta is approved as a treatment for acute or moderate-to-severe pain. The drug also contains niacin, which causes irritation and flushing if patients take extra doses to get high.
http://www.pharmacistelink.com/index.php/drugs-and-treatment/30535
Junk Food Fight: Should Ads Stop Targeting Teens?
The government says junk food marketers shouldn't advertise to kids; not just on TV, but also online, in schools, and in stores. New guidelines being proposed are voluntary, and food companies can opt out. However, with four powerful agencies, including the FTC and the FDA, throwing their weight behind the proposal, the food industry is taking the measure seriously.
The guidelines are not directed only at kids younger than 12, but one of the most contentious issues is whether the marketing limits should be applied to older kids, aged 12 to 17. The deadline for public comments is July 14; the final guidelines are expected by the end of the year.
http://www.npr.org/2011/06/22/137245049/junk-food-fight-should-ads-stop-targeting-teens
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�that words such as "integrity," "truthfulness," and "sincerity" are also used to define "The Priceless Ingredient" of "honesty"? The Priceless Ingredient is associated with moral excellence. Phrases/words used to define "integrity" include a rigid adherence to a code or standard of values, soundness, and completeness.
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