http://www.pharmatimes.com/WorldNews/ViewArticle.aspx?id=11437
Grants from pharma industry are abused, claims coalition - 03/08/2007
There is “quite extensive evidence” that charitable and educational grants from the pharmaceutical industry have been abused to influence public health and policy decisions improperly, a US public health coalition has claimed.
Big pharmaceutical companies should disclose all their charitable and educational grants and gifts, says a letter sent by the coalition - which includes Essential Action, the American Public Health Association, Families USA, Health Action International, Oxfam International and Public Citizen - to leading drugmakers and industry associations.
“Big Pharma has used its charitable and educational funding to influence key public policy debates, affect doctors’ prescribing decisions and over-promote diseases and drug treatments,” claims Robert Weissman, director of Essential Action, which organised the letter. “Disclosure of industry funding of think tanks, patient groups, and continuing education courses doesn’t cure this problem, but it is a start,” he adds.
“Purportedly educational” programmes sponsored by industry may improperly promote drugs, including for off-label uses, while consumer groups worldwide have repeatedly found industry-funded patient groups promoting particular medicines, and industry-friendly public policies, without sufficient regard for safety concerns, the coalition claims. However, in May, Eli Lilly began publishing its charitable and educational contributions in the USA and the coalition’s letter urges other companies to follow Lilly’s lead, on a global basis.
The full text of the public health coalition letter and list of signatories is available at: www.pharmadisclose.org. By Lynne Taylor "
Yes indeed. It happens in the UK too.
http://www.sane.org.uk/public_html/News/Mental_Health_News.shtm
"NEW SCHIZOPHRENIA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
27 July 2006
SANE’s chief executive, Marjorie Wallace, and head of strategy, Margaret Edwards attended the launch of a new 1 in 100 educational initiative at the House of Commons on 11 July. 1 in 100 aims to promote choice through knowledge, by providing comprehensive information to people experiencing schizophrenia, their families and friends. Entitled, ‘The Picture’s Looking Brighter’, the new campaign sponsored by Janssen-Cilag UK also looks to support a more positive view on schizophrenia...."
http://www.pharmafocus.com/cda/focusH/1,2109,21-0-0-JUL_2007-focus_news_detail-0-491364,00.html
Janssen's Invega approved in Europe
Thursday , July 12, 2007
"...Janssen-Cilag's once-daily schizophrenia treatment, Invega, has been granted European approval, making it the first oral, prolonged-release drug for the condition on the market.
Invega (paliperidone) is the company's follow-up to its highly successful atypical antipsychotic, Risperdal, which is due to lose patent protection in 2008.
Last year, in England and Wales, Risperdal (risperidone) accounted for £44 million of GP prescribing, compared to £108 million for Lilly's market leader Zyprexa (olanzapine)..."
"...Invega is the active metabolite of risperidone and works by fully blocking serotonin receptors, and partially blocks D2 dopamine receptors..."
"...Marjorie Wallace, chief executive at mental health charity Sane, said: "We are pleased that innovative delivery technologies are being applied to new treatments for schizophrenia.
[new? its slow release is new, but its still risperidone however much they call it new]
New treatment options such as Paliperidone are a significant opportunity for more people with schizophrenia to effectively manage their disease, working with their medical team to live more fulfilling and productive lives."..."
[its a significant opportunity for more people told they are schizophrenic to be effectively persuaded by their medical team that old drugs are new drugs and how under the new drugs they will be able to live MORE fulfilling and productive lives than they could under the crippling effects of the old drug, and an even more significant opportunity for all those benefitting from the financial kickbacks one way or another to raise their incomes]
"...Risperdal Oral was first launched in the early 1980s and more recently Jannsen-Cilag extended the franchise by launching Risperdal Quicklet and Risperdal Consta, a long-acting. injectable antipsychotic...."
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhealth/42/4112502.htm
"... — There is world wide alarm because of the effects of the Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors and allegations that information from clinical trials has been suppressed. A courageous leading campaign has been pursued by MIND who receives no contributions from any pharmaceutical company. There has been silence from SANE and Depression Alliance who accept donations. I have been in contact with all three organisations. There are grounds for suspicion that, at best, donations may have an inhibiting effect on the two latter groups. This may explain why they have failed to add to the concerns eloquently expressed by MIND..."