tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post4893359883685111099..comments2024-03-28T13:38:36.788-04:00Comments on Pharma Marketing Blog: Myth #1: High U.S. Drug Prices Guarantee Us First Shot at New DrugsVladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114063498108633047noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-61957270846077862812007-05-21T10:04:00.000-04:002007-05-21T10:04:00.000-04:00Bob,Thanks for your comments.Speaking of protectin...Bob,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comments.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of protecting Americans against pandemics, I think Drug companies can still profit from vaccines, development of which is a special case in terms of high drug prices, if an enlightened government would subsidize development critical vaccines for public health -- like some EU governments are doing with Gardasil -- making it available for free (Merck still gets paid).<BR/><BR/>In the case of bioterrorism threat, I think the industry and our government is failing to protect us no matter at what price:<BR/><BR/>AP: U.S. Cancels Anthrax Vaccine Contract<BR/><BR/>The U.S. government ...cancelled an $877 million contract with California-based VaxGen Inc. for a new anthrax vaccine.<BR/><BR/>The cancellation came after VaxGen missed an important deadline to start human tests of the vaccine, the Associated Press reported. That failure put VaxGen in default of its contract with the federal government, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.<BR/><BR/>The cancellation isn't just bad news for VaxGen. It also means that the U.S. government now has no defined plan to find a next-generation anthrax vaccine, the AP reported.PharmaGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10211557578124130640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-91856550405855911782007-05-20T19:37:00.000-04:002007-05-20T19:37:00.000-04:00It may be true that many medicines are approved ou...It may be true that many medicines are approved outside the U.S. first. My point is that when we really need a lifesaving drug and the supply is short, such as likely in a pandemic, Americans will get those drugs first. After all higher prices get the limited supply.<BR/><BR/>The critics of the drug industy's R&D justification for high U.S. prices have few facts to refute that. They claim the NIH or universities create most drugs, but where is the evidence? Of course they can point to a few cases and those get featured in critics' books, but the fact is drug comany research discovers most new drugs and vaccines.<BR/><BR/>Ok, so what if we tested the need for industry profits to create new drugs, by creating price controls? Then Americans will be the guinea pigs for the failure of drug discovery. Is that the outcome you want John?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-51024429911572739072007-05-18T11:21:00.000-04:002007-05-18T11:21:00.000-04:00Bob is being a little naive in his email. Pharma M...Bob is being a little naive in his email. Pharma Marketing execs are frequently cynical about patient health, and about the impact their decisions will have on patient lives. If as Bob says, "In private meetings I never heard a sinister comment, or an uncaring reaction to a side effect problem. I am sure they have occurred but not while I was observing," then he's got some damned good ear plugs and dark glasses. Or he hasn't been at many meetings, which I doubt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-55006607113945776922007-05-18T08:35:00.000-04:002007-05-18T08:35:00.000-04:00Isn't it a bit ironic, though, how the insulin mar...Isn't it a bit ironic, though, how the insulin market has been contrarian? Natural (animal) insulins--which for almost 80 years were over-the-counter medicines in the U.S.--are available elsewhere throughout the world, but have been removed from the U.S. marketplace entirely! Needful Americans must go through a convoluted "personal importation" procedure in order to obtain this time-proven medicine from outside U.S. sources. Which brings us to the "guinea pig" analogy.<BR/><BR/>The speed with which rDNA genetically-engineered insulin was approved was record-setting. This very speed placed all diabetics forced to switch to rDNA insulin in (involuntary) Phase IV trials--the guinea pig role, where adverse event reports are tallied. Now, after more than 20 years of usage, new "conditions" are arising in the diabetic population [insulin resistance, Type 3 diabetes, Type 1-1/2 diabetes]. Do you think this might be a result of Lilly's eagerness to reap profits, guinea pigs be damned.<BR/><BR/>From approval to market domination, rDNA insulin producers seem to have broken all the rules (no penalties assessed)--and not necessarily for the betterment of mankind, nor for the best treatment money can buy.<BR/><BR/>MelodyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com