NEWS
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What's In the News?
NEW DTB Online Address
Owing to the transfer of ownership of the DTB (Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin) from Which? to the bmj publishing group, the website has been redesigned and relocated. The site has been designed with a cleaner look in mind with easy-to-use additional features. Visit the new DTB website to take a look for yourself!
Ethical pharmaceuticals
Two Imperial College-based academics have led the way in a new brand of 'ethical pharmaceuticals' by modifying existing drugs and bypassing the large western multi-national pharmaceutical industries to begin the early stages of clinical trials. Their research, part-funded by Imperial and the WellcomeTrust (whose company holds the patent) has been passed to an Indian pharmaceutical company (Shantha) to work on production with the Indian government helping to fund the clinical trial stages still necessary. The hope is that Professor Sunil Shaunak and Steve Brocchini's work will begin a trend for reduced cost manufacture and thus more widespread distribution worldwide. (Sources... Andrea Gerlin, Bloom News, 4th Jan. 2007 and Sarah Boseley, The Guardian, 2nd Jan. 2007)
Trade group bars gifts to doctors
Companies that belong to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations must adhere to a revised code of ethics that bars them from giving doctors money or other gifts that might influence drug choices, such as paying for trips to golf resorts or luxury hotels. From Jan. 1st the group's 26 member companies, including Pfizer Inc., GlaxoSmithKline PLC, AstraZeneca PLC and Merck & Co. Novartis AG will no longer be permitted such practices restricted to both more modest gifts and venues for marketing to health professionals. (Source:Andrea Gerlin, Bloomberg News, 4/1/2007)
Researchers see bias in private-funded studies
A row which started in the pharmaceutical industry regarding the way that independent scientists can act when they receive funding from a commercial source may be revisited after bias in industry-funded studies was shown to affect other industry sectors. (Source: Polly Curtis,The Guardian,9th January)
Patient groups: Swallowing the best advice?
Some patient groups are perilously close to becoming extensions of pharmaceutical companies' marketing departments. A New Scientist survey of industry donations to patient groups in the US found that, in total, seven groups received 20 per cent or more of their funding from pharmaceutical and medical device companies. In general, groups that received more than 20 per cent of their funding from industry seeemed to be associated with conditions that affect a significant number of people, for which a specific long-term therapy exists (Source: New Scientist magazine, Issue 2575, 27/10/2006, pgs 18-22)