Six months until the largest tax hike in history...

[JJIII]

Originally Posted by merrylander

In the old days doctors used leeches, now we have drug companies.

Give the man a Kewpie Doll!

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by merrylander

In the old days doctors used leeches, now we have drug companies.

So, the Leeches used to BE the treatment, now the leeches MAKE the treatment? Interesting.

Dave

[Charles]

You guys need to lay off of big pharma.

My neighbor the drug dealer is wanting a new Corvette.

Chas

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Combwork

? I'm not sure about your reference; are you saying the drug companies are not spending their profits on research? I didn't say all profits, but enough to get the next wonder drug to market and sell under the brand name for as long as they can.

It seems to me they're spending a lot keeping the results of unfavorable research out of the news and away from regulators.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/he...e&ref=homepage

Much the same happened with Vioxx, IIRC.

[Combwork]

Quote Finbow "It seems to me they're spending a lot keeping the results of unfavorable research out of the news and away from regulators."

With us the worst was Thalidomide. Having passed all the tests it was prescribed as a sedative and to treat morning sickness during pregnancy. In those days, sedatives, sleeping pills, uppers and downers were seen as wonder drugs and with hindsight, over-prescribed. When babies started appearing with limbs either deformed or missing, it took years and years before the manufacturers (and by default the government) admitted any kind of liability and gave proper financial support for the families involved.

Marrylander and Boreus. I think the main difference between UK and USA health care is the backbone of the UK is the National Health Service with private care available for those who can afford it, while the backbone of the USA is private health care with public health care available to those who can't afford it. Maybe a bit simplistic, but that's what it looks like from the outside.

As to research, the NHS does research but a lot is duplication of what has already been done. For some reason that I've never understood, in general the UK does not accept test results from other countries (including the USA) so has to do its own. A lot of wasted time, wasted money to prove what's already been proved. As a guess, the more litiginous nature of things in the USA would make for more stringent testing of any drug before allowing it on the market.

[merrylander]

The Glaxo Smith Klein deal does not surprise me in the least. Listen closely to the TV commercials sometime, with all these "new" drugs the side effects are worse than the disease they profess to alieviate. Big Pharma is only interested in research for diseases that will provide the widest possible market. If what ails you is only something affecting, say 5% of the population, you are SOL.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Combwork

In general the UK does not accept test results from other countries (including the USA) so has to do its own. A lot of wasted time, wasted money to prove what's already been proved. As a guess, the more litiginous nature of things in the USA would make for more stringent testing of any drug before allowing it on the market.

Maybe your Thalidomide reference answers your own question. FWIW, the Food and Drug Administration in the US doesn't accept test results from other nations either. Hell, the same applies to consensus codes and standards in general. We don't accept the DIN, the Germans don't accept ASTM, NFPA, etc. I guess all it's human nature not to trust "foreigners" and their silly concepts of what makes things tick.

[noonereal]

I trust no pharmaceutical company. They are a leading cause of death in this country.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Maybe your Thalidomide reference answers your own question. FWIW, the Food and Drug Administration in the US doesn't accept test results from other nations either. Hell, the same applies to consensus codes and standards in general. We don't accept the DIN, the Germans don't accept ASTM, NFPA, etc. I guess all it's human nature not to trust "foreigners" and their silly concepts of what makes things tick.

But they are perfectly willing to let some of the compunds the drugs are made from in frm China.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by Combwork

With us the worst was Thalidomide. Having passed all the tests it was prescribed as a sedative and to treat morning sickness during pregnancy.

We had the exact same experience with Thalidomide here.

John