[paula_w]

Nick Nelson has just launched a website for his book. See:
http://monkeysinthemiddle.com/
Links to videos, web sites,articles, etc. about GDNF and purchasing information.

http://monkeysinthemiddle.com/

[rosebud]

glad to see the 60 minutes piece on the website. My Neuro just blew the whole thing off when I told him about it. He's going to get a copy of the book and my Stormtrooper attitude next visit to his office (October).

Paula, where are you going to be? I'd love to see you....

[lou_lou]

Caveat emptor
Latin for "Let the buyer beware." The idea that buyers take responsibility for the condition of the items they purchase and should examine them before purchase. This is especially true for items that are not covered under a strict warranty. See, e.g. SEC v. Zandford, 535 U.S. 813 (2002).
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actually?

conflict of interests -!

Attempts were made to increase regulation and to limit financial links between pharmaceutical companies and prescribing physicians, including by the relatively new US FDA. Such calls increased in the 1960s after the thalidomide tragedy came to light, in which the use of a new tranquilizer in pregnant women caused severe birth defects. In 1964, the World Medical Association issued its Declaration of Helsinki, which set standards for clinical research and demanded that subjects give their informed consent before enrolling in an experiment. Phamaceutical companies became required to prove efficacy in clinical trials before marketing drugs.

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Controversy about drug development and testing
There have been increasing accusations and findings that clinical trials conducted or funded by pharmaceutical companies are much more likely to report positive results for the preferred medication.[4]

yet not the GDNF clinical trial -damdam Amgen for pulling a monkey out of their back pockets -
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PhRMA's mission is to conduct effective advocacy for public policies that encourage discovery of important new medicines for patients by pharmaceutical/biotechnology research companies.
Representing 50 biotech companies, PhRMA has twenty registered lobbyists on staff and has contracted with dozens of lobby and public relations firms — including Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, Barbour Griffith & Rogers, DCI Group, The Dutko Group, Edelman and Bonner & Associates — to promote its members' interests...

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A fourth phase of post-approval surveillance is also often required due to the fact that even the largest clinical trials cannot effectively predict the prevalence of rare side-effects. Post-marketing surveillance ensures that after marketing the safety of a drug is monitored closely. In certain instances, its indication may need to be limited to particular patient groups, and in others the substance is withdrawn from the market completely.

The FDA provides information about approved drugs at the Orange Book site.[9] In the UK, the British National Formulary is the core guide for pharmacists and clinicians.

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Orphan drugs
Main article: Orphan drug
There are special rules for certain rare diseases ("orphan diseases") involving fewer than 200,000 patients in the United States, or larger populations in certain circumstances. [10] Because medical research and development of drugs to treat such diseases is financially disadvantageous, companies that do so are rewarded with tax reductions, fee waivers, and market exclusivity on that drug for a limited time (seven years), regardless of whether the drug is protected by patents.


Legal issues
Where pharmaceutics have been shown to cause side-effects, civil action has occurred, especially in countries where tort payouts are likely to be large. Due to high-profile cases leading to large compensations, most pharmaceutical companies endorse tort reform. Recent controversies have involved Vioxx and SSRI antidepressants.

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NB The top 25 Pharmaceutical Company lists produced by Wood-Mackenzie for the years 2004-2006 can be found at:
http://www.p-d-r.com/ranking/ranking.html
on the P-D-R website.





http://www.answers.com/topic/pharmac...ers-of-america

http://www.answers.com/topic/pharmaceutical-company-1