The FDA and drug companies: Must read

Wow, this thread is talking.  Comment to the post on the celebrex.  I too can not take these meds due to stomach issues and acid reflux.  But did you know that these drugs (including celebrex) were removed from the market as being unsafe?  Yet only to return with disclaimer "that the medical gains from this product outweighs the risk of side effects"  or something like that.....don't know the exact words.  Celebrex can give you a heart attack... WTF.  I've curred my acid reflux with pure honey.  Swear it works.  have not taken a little purple pill or antacid in months.

Re: cost of drugs and who makes money from them.  This is definitely a big problem without a cure in sight.

I work for big pharma - currently working on a drug to prevent Alzheimer's in high risk people.  It will probably fail.  Why? - no particular reason, just statistically most drugs fail during development.  Meanwhile, I am being paid a pretty good salary plus benefits along with medicinal chemists, analytical chemists, synthetic chemists, data modelers, formulators, pharmacologists, toxicologists, physicians, statisticians, economists, marketing folks, regulatory specialists, animal care technicians, equipment operators, laboratory technicians, project managers, bio-analysts, drug product production staff, clinical supplies staff (for packaging and blinding for clinical trial material), plus many more.  There are literally 100s of people working on this compound at my company, over the course of years, that are getting paid, that the company probably won't make a dime on.  

So new pharmaceuticals must cost a lot to cover the cost of development, plus the cost of the drugs that ultimately fail.  Without big $$ development will cease - as is already starting to happen in Europe - where prices are regulated.  A big European drug company just announced they are no longer developing drugs for Europe, because the prices are not high enough to cover the cost of innovation.  

I also think that the health care system in the US cannot afford many more cancer treatments that cost greater than $50,000/ year. (My treatment was north of $200,000)  I would like to see some kind of universal health care so families don't have to go bankrupt to cover medical costs.

Do I have a solution to this?  No, I am not that smart.  

What's my point? That the problem of high drug prices and profitability is much more complex than chalking up the problem to greed (of which there is plenty) and conspiracies (which I believe are relatively rare).

By high risk, I mean those with certain genes that make them predisposed to getting it at an early age.  Its unlikely that a healthy diet will prevent the disease in most of these people.

Anyway Jenniferme, you totally missed the point.  But it was my bad for thinking most people on this thread had an open mind or was willing to think, when condemning is so much easier.  I knew better even when I was typing it.  A couple exceptions noted.

tucker:  the honey is also wonders for my seasonal allergies.  I am building up a good immunity.  My ENT agrees.  I also have very, very dense breasts and my lesion was only see on MRI.  Because of this I am now qualified for a yearly breast MRI.  Just getting off the topic, but I saw another thread on this website regarding a video to watch on the use of gamma rays.  It's called MBI, which was developed by an Israel company.  It's still in the early development stage but is designed specifically for women with dense breasts.  It was so very informal and I believe already FDA approved.  But guess what, it is being slapped down because of the chain of those that make money off the very expensive MRIs.  I know that this video is on this website, www.ted.com.  I will look for the thread and post my findings unless some of you ladies has seen this??  It is a must see for all women.

Saw a brand new informercial this morning by a local attorney looking for women who have taken Zoloft and Prozac that caused birth defects in their children.  (OMG.  Don't get me started on the ambulance chasers.)  There is just not enough long term testing on drugs before they are released to the public.  All these drastic side effects do not occur until long after their use, usually years and by that time is has done so much damage to the molecular structure of the brain and body that it creates cell damage that can even be passed on to your unborn. 

I never heard of the brca test until recently.  Not sure how long it's been out there.  But think about it, a mutated gene that causes cancer can be passed on from mother/father and can be detected by this blood test.  How did one know that there was even such a mutated gene to develope a test for it?  This so seems linked to the cancer being put into the polio shot (was it the polio vaccine)(don't want to get my newly found  knowledge confused)? 

Yes it was the polio vaccine. The flip side is that when there is a vaccine such as being tested in phase one trials at Rosewell Parks cancer center that may very well mean the end of this hideous disease, we need to speed that up- especially for the stage 4 girls, which can happen to any of us in a blink.

thenewme:  And you know this because....?

i worked in a adult care facility where there was 3 levels of care. Residential, Assisted living and nursing care. Residents went from one phase to the other according to their level of function.

Many were alone and abandoned by their familys and left to the care of the nurses and aids. They were for the most part caring and loving, as long as you were behaving. We had morning meetings everyday to discuss, among other things, the behavior of the residents. If they showed signs of aggression or irritability a dr was called to examine and evaluate them. Many were put on anti depressants and anti psychotic drugs which left them in a catatonic state. ZOMBIES. MEDICINAL LOBOTOMYS. It was a way of controling them. Walking down the halls lined with wheelchairs and sleepy well behaved geriatirics. Very sad. This was their home, not a mental institution. Reminded me of One Flew Over the Cookoos Nest.

Who's to blame for this? Their familys, the nurses and employees, the Drs??YES. and of course the drugs.At least 40-60% of them were medicated to keep them quiet and in line. This is abuse, DRUG ABUSE. 

So now they are gonna try to take our suppliments away??????how scary is that????

The FDA and Big Pharma has been married for quite some time now....wondering what they will give their family members if they come down with any kind of cancer?????Chemo-no rads-no-the big ALs.-no...what then suppliments???/

$$$$$$$$ the root of all evil.

The FDA is a very powerful MAFIA.And yes the can find a way.they look for the smallest loophope and pounce OR they make one up.

I was on viox for quite some time then that was pulled along with Celebrex...what the hell did they take out to put it back on.ya know some kinda poison.

Years ago when i was a young mother i read in the National Inquirer(junk Paper) that ASPRIN WAS POISON...they are right.

hmmmmmmm just wondering how many of our sistas take an asprin daily???????

Just an observation.  I do not see the supplement industries doing a lot of controlled investigations by neutral third parties to see if their claims are true.  The supplement industries have a lot of hype too.  But I still take some supplements.

68 supplements a day?  Wow...