|
Spinbrush Powered Toothbrush (Arm and Hammer or Crest) May Pose Choking Hazard and Cause Serious Injuries
The FDA has notified parents, caregivers, consumers, and dental care professionals about reports of serious injuries and potential hazards associated with the use of all models of the Spinbrush. These reports state that while turned on, the brush head has either "popped off" or broken off in the user's mouth or near the face, causing cuts to the mouth and gums, chipped or broken teeth, swallowing and choking on the broken pieces, and injuries to the face and eyes. The risk is higher for unattended children or adults who may need assistance while using this device.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation
/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm292239.htm?source=govdelivery
Fakes Infiltrate Injectable Drugs
A counterfeit version of the cancer drug Avastin has been found in the U.S. and emphasizes a rising threat—fakes of costly injectables. The FDA recently alerted doctors and other healthcare providers about the risk of "non-approved injectable cancer medications," including unauthorized versions of Herceptin, Rituxan, and Neupogen.
In the past, most drug-counterfeiting incidents have involved oral solid dosage forms such as Viagra, the most commonly faked drug according to Pfizer, with more than 9.5 million bogus tablets seized last year. Injectable drugs have become increasingly attractive to counterfeiters as they get a higher price for injectables than for oral solid dosage forms.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204059804577225640701811020.html?mod=WSJ_business_IndustryNews_DHC
More Job Losses Feared by PHARMA
A survey of drug company execs suggests that the era of pink slips continues to plague the PHARMA industry. PharmaIQ's "The Big Pharma Recession Report" found that 44% of PHARMA employees are worried about losing their jobs. Sales and marketing might appear to be targeted considering events like AstraZeneca's announcement that it was slashing 24% of its U.S. sales force.
The study also brings to light additional support for the "less-is-more" strategy: 60% of employees who were working in downsized departments said the same amount of work was being done by fewer people.
http://www.mmm-online.com/pharma-fears-additional-job-fallout/article/227457/
President's Budget Seeks Hike in Industry Funding Support for FDA
The President's budget includes a 17% hike in the FDA's budget, but much of the increase would come from companies, not tax dollars. Almost half of the FDA's proposed $4.5 billion budget would come from inspections and fees paid by companies.
About a third of the FDA's funding in the past five years has come from company fees, but under this proposal, the amount would increase to 45%, supported in part by new fee agreements with manufacturers of generic drugs and versions of complex biotechnology medicines and fees from food facilities.
About $10 million of the budget would go to hiring 19 inspectors to focus on China. Sixteen of them would work in China on food and drug safety and standards.
(Editor's Note: 16 FDA inspectors for both food AND drugs in China????)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/13/budget-fda-idUSL2E8DD4QY20120213
Raw Drug Data Sold Raw to Big PHARMA
A German company that evaluates drug prescription habits for the PHARMA industry is accused of selling raw data to drug companies. A former staff member at the data processing firm Pharmafakt GFD states that data from millions of pharmacy prescriptions had been saved, analyzed, and then sold to PHARMA firms.
Selling the information is perfectly legal as long as it is made anonymous first. The raw information could enable the PHARMA firms to work out which doctors have been prescribing which medicines and then could use it to fine-tune the work of sales representatives who visit doctors to persuade them of the benefits of particular products.
This may be one of the biggest data scandals in the country in the medical field. The customers of the company include companies like Pfizer, Sanofi, Bayer, Novartis, Roche, and GlaxoSmithKline.
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120213-40705.html
| 
