Drug Companies More Often Sponsor Research; Many Such Studies Have Positive Findings For Their Products

Drug companies are increasingly funding medical studies, which often bring positive results for their own products, according to USA Today. Researchers on Wednesday at an American Psychiatric Association conference in Toronto reported that in 2002, 57% of drug studies published in medical journals were funded by drug companies, compared with 25% with 1992. Igor Galynker of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City led the study, which examined studies on psychiatric drugs published in four medical journals: the American Journal of Psychiatry, the Archives of General Psychiatry, the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry and the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Reviewers were not told who paid for the studies. Galynker said the findings show a favored outcome for the drugs being studied in approximately:
Eight out of 10 studies that were paid for by the company that makes the drug;

Five of 10 studies that were conducted with no industry support; and

Three out of 10 studies funded by competitors manufacturing a competing product.

The findings do not prove that drug companies are conducting biased studies, according to study co-author Robert Kelly, also with Beth Israel. Nonetheless, some health experts are beginning to encourage publicly funded medical studies. Sidney Wolfe, director of the Health Research Group at Public Citizen, called for the government to fund more research (Elias, USA Today, 5/25).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Use Of Generic Rx Substitutes Grows To 54% Of Prescriptions, Medco Report Says

Pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions currently substitutes 54% of brand-name prescription drugs with generic medications, compared with 47% in 2005, according to a report released by the company on Friday, the Los Angeles Times reports. According to the report, increased use of generic medications has helped slow prescription drug spending growth in recent years (Yi, Los Angeles Times, 5/20). Prescription drug spending by health insurers and employers increased by 5.4% in 2005, compared with 8.5% in 2004, the report finds. In 2005, prescription drug spending growth in large part involved medications for high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes and cancer, the report finds (Washington Post, 5/20). The use of brand-name prescription drugs began to decrease last year as a result of the market withdrawals of the COX-2 inhibitors Vioxx and Bextra -- as well as decreased sales of the COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex -- over safety concerns, the report finds. In addition, health care experts said that the use of generic medications has increased as employers have sought to reduce prescription drug spending. Chris Wright, a managing principal of pharmaceutical consulting company ZS Associates, added that many patents on brand-name prescription drugs have begun to expire (Los Angeles Times, 5/20).
Availability of Generic Versions of Statins Examined

In related news, the Chicago Tribune on Thursday examined the availability of generic versions of statins, a class of anticholesterol medications that in recent years "has been the most costly U.S. brand-name prescription group for U.S. consumers and employers." A generic version of Zocor, the second-most commonly prescribed statin, likely will become available by late June, and a generic version of Pravachol, the third-most commonly prescribed statin, became available earlier this month. According to the Tribune, the availability of generic versions of statins could reduce copayments by more than $200 annually for some consumers, with monthly copays reduced from between $20 and $40 to between $5 and $10 (Jaspen, Chicago Tribune, 5/21).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Industry-Sponsored Research Produces More Favorable Results For Experimental Treatments, Study Finds

Industry-sponsored medical research generated results favorable to experimental heart drugs or medical devices two-thirds of the time, according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Bloomberg/Arizona Daily Star reports. For the study, researchers from Harvard Medical School examined 324 comparison studies of cardiovascular treatments published between Jan. 1, 2000, and July 30, 2005, in JAMA, the New England Journal of Medicine and the Lancet. In trials funded by not-for-profit sources, 49% were favorable to new products, and studies that combined funding produced favorable results 57% of the time. Researchers found that tests of cardiovascular devices supported the experimental treatments 82% of the time when funded by for-profit companies, 50% when funded by not-for-profits and 69% of the time when funded jointly. For drugs, industry-funded research produced favorable results 66% of the time, 40% of the time in not-for-profit studies, and 54% when funded jointly. According to Bloomberg/Daily Star, the findings "are the latest to indicate funding bias in medical journal articles" (Bloomberg/Arizona Daily Star, 5/17). An abstract of the study is available online.

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Grassley, Baucus Urge CMS To Resolve Questions About Medicare QIOs

Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and committee ranking member Max Baucus (D-Mont.) in a letter dated May 12 asked CMS Administrator Mark McClellan to address questions about the effectiveness of and "possible financial improprieties" involving Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 5/16). CMS pays about $300 million annually to 53 private contractors to investigate beneficiary complaints, evaluate quality and work with physicians and hospitals to improve care (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/10). The American Health Quality Association, which represents QIOs, in April recommended that CMS increase the contract lengths for QIOs and earmark additional funding to broaden the organizations' responsibilities. Grassley has raised several concerns about QIOs related to executives' salaries and perks for board members. A report from the Institute of Medicine in March also raised concerns and called for reforms, and the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office and the finance committee are conducting ongoing investigations of QIOs.

Letter

In the letter to McClellan, Grassley and Baucus said CMS should delay actions to broaden the role of QIOs until their concerns can be addressed. They said that in addition to the "potential serious problems" related to possible financial wrongdoing, "there is still a need for more thorough evaluation of the QIOs' effectiveness in improving the quality of health care." Grassley and Baucus added, "We would like our staffs to discuss legislative and administrative changes necessary to ensure that QIOs improve the quality of health care for Medicare beneficiaries, use resources judiciously and adhere to ethical business practices." Todd Ketch, AHQA's vice president for governmental affairs, said QIOs already are responding to the calls for reform, and 50 of 53 QIOs have adopted industry standards on board structure, compensation and perks. He added that AHQA has proposed to CMS administrative and legislative changes to improve QIO accountability" (CQ HealthBeat, 5/16).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Drug Makers Pay Doctors To Write Studies Criticizing Generic Drugs, Opinion Piece Says

In a "move that may astonish even the most jaded critics of ethically challenged pharmaceutical marketing, makers of sleeping pills are now paying doctors to publish bad things about competing drugs," Daniel Carlat, a professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine, writes in a New York Times opinion piece. According to Carlat, widespread advertising for brand-name sleeping pills, such as Sepracor's Lunesta and Sanofi Aventis' Ambien, have made the medications "household names," but "most people have never heard of" trazodone, a widely prescribed generic hypnotic that psychiatrists frequently prescribe as a sleep aid. Trazodone carries no risk of addiction, is effective as a sleep aid, has a "long safety record" and costs as little as 10 cents per pill, Carlat writes. In recent years, several articles written by physicians have appeared in professional journals that criticize trazodone, using "rhetorical techniques" that "minimiz[e] [its] advantages" and "emphasi[ze] ... its negative qualities," he notes. Carlat says that the articles, which "purport to present balanced reviews of the scientific literature on sleeping pills," were sponsored by companies such as Sanofi-Aventis, Sepracor and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the same firms "that stand to gain from trazodone's downfall." The "way to discourage [the] practice of negative marketing disguised as legitimate scientific commentary is to mandate fuller disclosure of links between drug companies and authors," Carlat writes, adding that the companies "should be required to disclose the exact nature of a doctor's involvement in preparing a sponsored article, as well as the dollar amount of his or her fee." He concludes, "I suspect it would be the rare doctor who would want such information to come to light" (Carlat, New York Times, 5/9).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

RE: Who Should Get Pandemic Vaccine First? The Strong, The Weak, The Young Or The Elderly?

"Public health experts are finding it hard to agree who should get the flu pandemic vaccine first? Should we protect the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and people who suffer from asthma, diabetes and weakened immune systems? Or should we focus on those who are most likely to recover? "

In my opinion, the most vulnerable and those that have been found to die from the diesese should be the obvious choice when it comes to the vaccination of the avian flu. My opinion is that the elderly and the young should be the first to get the vaccination, cause its seems that it will prevent early deaths, and early signs of getting the flu.

RE: Medicare Drug Information Hotline Full Of Mistakes

"The Government-Accountability-Office (GAO) had its people pose as senior citizens and placed 500 calls to 1-800-MEDICARE hotline and asked for information. Over 30% of the information they received was the wrong. The most important question ‘Which drug plan costs the least for my specific needs' was answered incorrectly 59% of the time...... If energetic GAO employees have problems trying to sign up, one wonders what it must be like for senior citizens. How many of those who did manage to sign up got the best price for their needs?"

This is exactly my fear in the new Medicaree plan, the new plan states that all pharmaceuticals are going to be given at a cheaper rate to distract citizens from buying online with Canadian pharmacies. This goes to show that some of the seniors that will be effected by the new medicare may not even have the choice of getting the right plan for them.

Just some food for thought!

The Bird Flu - Who does it really effect?

The Avian influenza virus is a virus that is more commonly found in birds, but in recent years there has been a breakout of this virus that is effecting the human race. This epidemic was first found infecting 8 Asian Nations including the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Indonesia, and China.

How humans contracted this infectious virus?

Any person who comes into direct contact with the infected poultry or bird (sometimes even pigs) or any area that may be contaminated by thier feces is the most commonly routed ways to infections in humans. Most of the bird flu infections have happened in homes located in rural areas where they have a small flock of poultry and are able to roam around and even entering homes.

The fact that many households in Asia rely on chickens and other poultry as thier main source of income and food. Once the first sign of infection occurs in the flock the family owns they will often try to rid the flock either through the selling, or killing of the flock of poultry. The highest risk of infections to humans often happens in the killing, butchering, or cooking of the infectious bird.

How do I know if I have the bird flu? What are the sypmtons?

Human flu symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis. In the case of the bird flu, it is more likely to cause breathing problems and pneumonia, and the bird flu can be fatal.

What vaccines are avaiable?

Although there is no vaccines that are available at this time for the H5N1 virus, they are currently working hard to find a vaccine to help reduce the risk of a bird flu epidemic. The 2 antiviral medications, amantadine and rimantadine, are commonly used for influenza seem to be resistant to the H5N1 virus (or the bird flu found in humans). There is 2 additional antiviral medications oseltamavir and zanamavir might actually work to treat the bird flu, but they are still working on the studies to demonstrate thier effectiveness.

If you have any more questions on the bird flu, the CDC will have more information on the bird flu and can definitely answer any questions you may have!

Despite The New Medicare Plan: Is Buying Drugs From Canada Still More Affordable?

One of the biggest changes in the American drug industry is implementing the new
medicare system. The recent changes in January 2006, will allow everyone
regardless of income, health status and prescription drug use, to have access to
prescription drug coverage.


What does this mean for canadian pharmacies online, who have built up a network
of clients in our neighbouring nation?


After looking at the medicare plan and analysing what their proposing it still may
not be an effective choice for all your prescription drug needs. One of the major
factors in the medicare plan is that before you can get the 95% of coverage you
must spend a total of $3,600 on prescription meds.


Also if you don’t sign up for the medicare plan before March 15th, you could be
looking at spending even more. There are many variables in the cost and coverage
as well as convenience. You will have to find a pharmacy that is available in your
area, and if you are unable to walk or get around you will have fewer options if the
pharmacy is far. The final choice is of course the convenience of what your current
coverage plan is against what medicare is offering with their new prescription plan.
Here is a few questions you may want to ask before you go forward with the new
medicare plan:


How many prescriptions do I actually require a year and is this going to be the most
cost effective way to retain those prescriptions?
If I require more than one prescription a month?
The best way to answer this question is to call your pharmacy and ask them to
check and calculate the amount of money that it will actually cost for your
prescription drugs.


The ultimate choice will always be the consumer in the end. The Canadian drug
industry has always been a great alternative for getting quality prescription drugs.
If you are purchasing a prescription over the internet, Canadian or not, please check
that they have the following credentials:


- A Licence to dispense medication
- A Real pharmacist you can talk to regarding your medications
- They require a prescription from your doctor.

When you are choosing the best prescription drug plan, make sure that you are
choosing the best choice for all your prescription needs.

Why do you choose a Pharmacy online?

I have been looking at online pharmacies for sometime now, and I am always curious what is there to make you choose which one you will us?

Price? Are you looking for the quality drug at the lowest price? Well when I think of medicine I think of how much money it will cost me. In Canada I find that prescriptions are not as impossible to get for a reasonable price if you have the right benefits from your work and or your partner. Is it wiser to just get the prescriptions you need right online? No fuss, and no muss.

Convenience? I think this is the most important reason why people turn to the Internet. If you were limited with your mobility, how convenient would it be to just order online? The beauty of actually going up to your computer and while having your prescription you type in a few numbers and letters and Voila! Your required medicine in on the way and depending on the online pharmacy you use you, delivery could take up to 6 weeks.

Opportunity? The opportunity to have an option of choosing a generic brand of medicine with the same active ingredients as the name brand but are 20 – 40% cheaper than name brands. This I think is what the main attraction is to the online pharmacy. The option of more than one choice, just like any industry there should be options when choosing the brand of medication you are choosing.

The next and always most difficult question is how do you choose? Well the choice is almost unlimited but like with any online purchasing asking questions and finding out how legitimate they really are? All online prescriptions should require a prescription from your doctor. Is there someone you can talk to live, just like you could if you had walked in to a pharmacy? Is the pharmacy that the site is working with a registered?
The whole concept of the online pharmacy is to have all the same ideology of a walk in pharmacy but with the convenience of never leaving the comfort of your own home. Make sure you ask these questions before you go ahead with any transactions.

Many Online pharmacies offer the choice, best pricing, and most convenience of having your prescription drugs delivered right to your door. Which would you prefer? Ultimately the choice is up to the individual. For me I’m going to try my hand at the latest fad and order online and see what this adventure into the future of pharmacies is going.