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83 New Alzheimer's Drugs in Research and Development
There are 83 new drugs in research and development for Alzheimer's, 12 for cognition disorders and two for dementias, according to a new U.S. industry report. Between 1998 and 2011, 101 such treatments failed to reach patients, and only three medicines were approved to treat symptoms of the disease, representing a 34:1 ratio of setbacks, says the report, which is published by PhRMA.
"Setbacks in Alzheimer's research are disappointing to many, including the scientists carrying out the studies, but these unsuccessful attempts are critical stepping-stones to advancing our understanding of this extremely complex disease," commented John J Castellani, chief executive of PhRMA.
http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/12-09-14/83_new_drugs_for_Alzheimer_s_in_R_D_says_US_pharma_group.aspx
Half of All Prescribed Medicines in France are "Useless or Dangerous"
According to two medical specialists, half of all medicines being prescribed by doctors in France are either useless or potentially dangerous for patients. The blame is placed on the powerful pharmaceutical companies for keeping these drugs on sale at huge expense to the health system and the taxpayer.
The individuals say that removing what they describe as superfluous and hazardous drugs from the list of those paid for by the French health service would save up to save �10bn (�8bn) a year, prevent up to 20,000 deaths linked to the medication, and reduce hospital admissions by up to 100,000. The report states that the French consume medication worth around �36bn every year, around �532 for each citizen who has an average 47 boxes of medicine in cupboards every year. Also, the state covers 77% of the cost, amounting to 12% of GDP.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/14/french-doctors-half-of-all-prescribed-medicines-are-useless-or-dangerous/?
Opiate-addicted Babies on the Increase
The epidemic involves a widening battlefield where newborns scream and writhe with the pain of opiate withdrawal. "We're in the throes of an epidemic, and the babies are the most-innocent victims," said Dr. Rob Crane, a family physician at Ohio State University. "The rise has been astonishing, terrifying."
A recent national study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the number of babies born nationwide with symptoms of opiate withdrawal nearly tripled in the past decade, to an estimated 13,500 infants a year.
In some cases, experts say pregnancy can motivate addicts to seek help, but it also complicates treatment because of the stigma of drug use, grave health risks, and the limitations of traditional, outpatient methadone therapy.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/17/innocent-victims.html
Drug Companies Bribing Doctors in India with Gifts
Many gifts are offered by sales representatives for Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s Indian subsidiaries to get a doctor to prescribe the drugs they market. Gifts include a coffee maker, cookware, a vacuum cleaner, or other items.
Abbot provides a sales-strategy guide that details that doctors who pledge to prescribe Abbott's branded drugs, or who've already prescribed certain amounts, can expect some of these items in return.
In interviews with Reuters, dozens of doctors, drug reps, and other healthcare insiders said domestic and multinational drug makers routinely shower Indian doctors with gifts, posh junkets abroad, and cash payments disguised as consultancy or other types of fees.
Last year, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay a settlement of $70 million for charges that it paid bribes and kickbacks to win business in Greece, Iraq, Poland, and Romania. Pfizer Inc. recently agreed to pay $60.2 million to settle a U.S. government probe of illegal payments to win business overseas, including gifts such as cell phones and tea sets to doctors in China who prescribed the company's products.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/17/us-india-pharma-kickbacks-idUSBRE88G0I820120917
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