tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617900481067592523.post1002831164308929441..comments2012-05-02T11:27:55.438-04:00Comments on Health and Society: Innovation and AlternativesJHChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15006595225373347228noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617900481067592523.post-19101725414623199792012-03-27T23:32:21.120-04:002012-03-27T23:32:21.120-04:00As a consumer I find it disturbing that pharmaceut...As a consumer I find it disturbing that pharmaceutical companies are not pushing for new and innovative drugs and was shocked to learn about the recycling of "me-too" drugs. Research and development of new and innovative drugs is essential in discovering new lifesaving drugs. It is sad to think that medicine has become a corrupted by consumerism, and to realize that the pharmaceutical industry only has profit on their minds, rather than the consumer's best interest. I like the alternative solution that you propose and agree that different sectors, including drug discovery, are necessary to prevent the industry from becoming only about profit.Samantha Persaudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547406992362568194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617900481067592523.post-85523812630819016942012-03-27T18:43:01.477-04:002012-03-27T18:43:01.477-04:00I too was shocked to learn how Big Pharma places r...I too was shocked to learn how Big Pharma places research and development so low on its priority list. Scientific research should should drive pharmaceutical industry, not be treated as a hindrance to bigger profits. I was especially shocked to learn about how Big Pharma basically treats the FDA as a nuisance. As Angell stated, "Big Pharma and their acolytes int he media relentlessly berate the agency for putting bureaucratic obstacles int eh way of getting lifesaving drugs drugs to market (14)." This came across as especially evil to me for two reasons. First, it's the FDA's JOB to serve as a valuable unbiased checkpoint for drug safety. Drug companies, as we now know, are far too money hungry to be completely trusted about the safety of their products. Second, most of these drugs that the FDA are taking time to ensure safety for aren't even necessary, but are the previously mentioned "me-too" drugs. Therefore, there is literally no need for these to be rushed on the market. I find Big Pharma's apparent goals for health and society completely despicable.EmilyHsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13208978552580612669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7617900481067592523.post-71468787187463486532012-03-27T18:19:03.418-04:002012-03-27T18:19:03.418-04:00I certainly wish that pharmaceutical companies wer...I certainly wish that pharmaceutical companies were not driven by profits but rather to produce drugs for the public good. However, to achieve such a drastic change is hard for me to even imagine. I do think it’s possible to change the way they operate though. Shouldn’t profits be compensation for innovation? Shouldn’t companies be rewarded based on scientific advancement rather than marketing strategy? I agree with Angell on what she deems the most important reform, which is that companies should have to compare their new drugs to older drugs rather than to placebos. This would certainly cause a shift in how companies function and cause them focus more on innovating rather than recycling.Hagenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12821124966359454037noreply@blogger.com