U.S. doctors display "No drug reps" signs

jerry submitted, created time 5 months 4 weeks (www.bmj.com)

U.S. doctors who refuse to see drug companies’ sales representatives can now display a sign, similar to a "No smoking" sign, in their offices.

The certificate says that the doctor’s office "does not allow visits from pharmaceutical salespeople because we rely on scientific information, not marketing, to decide what treatment is best for you." It adds: "This policy also means that we don’t provide drug samples."

"‘Free’ drug samples cost you money," it says, because they are promoted only for the most expensive drugs.

The idea of the signs is being promoted by PharmedOut

7 comments | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: economics ethics marketing drug marketing pharmaceutical Representative Doctors drug companies

Sun setting on big pharma research in Japan?

bioman submitted, created time 1 year 9 months (www.drugresearcher.com)

A second pharma giant is closing its only research facility in Japan and others are also considering following suit, according to a Japanese business paper. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will follow Pfizer's example and close its research base in Tsukuba, relocating the 100 scientists employed there to the development division of its Japanese subsidiary. The pharma heavyweight hopes that the move will allow it to accelerate its clinical trials and the commercialisation of new products.

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Researchers simplify synthetic production of potential pharmaceuticals

broadcast submitted, created time 1 year 9 months (www.physorg.com)

A team of researchers at The Scripps Research Institute has developed new techniques that dramatically reduce the time, complexity, and cost of synthesizing natural products with pharmaceutical potential. The work dislodges previously entrenched beliefs in the organic chemistry field about how such products must be produced, and could help to advance and expand the use of natural products in drug discovery programs.

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Targeting fake drugs

Vampire submitted, created time 1 year 11 months (www.nature.com)

Pharmaceutical fraudsters have had an easy ride for years — counterfeit drugs are notoriously difficult to detect through all the layers of packaging. But a new tweak to an old stalwart of analytical chemistry could change all that.

Fake drugs are a major international concern (see 'Murder by medicine'), though estimates vary widely as to how bad the problem is. The US Food and Drug Administration suggests that 10% of all drugs are fake; other, unofficial estimates range up to 50%. The problem is worst in developing countries

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