3 ms·
I think you will find that this is what Big Pharma and their sockpuppets in Washington want you to believe. Through reading up on the 'opioid epidemic' you rea
by Theodores 8y ago
I think you will find that this is what Big Pharma and their sockpuppets in Washington want you to believe.
Through reading up on the 'opioid epidemic' you realise that a lot of this 'innovation' is not that great. Slow release tablets? There is no big deal there. Furthermore a lot of this 'research' is backwards, i.e. create a molecule that can be patented, see how much of it kills rats and then try and find some medical benefit for this 'new molecule'. If it treats cancer then is that because it kind of prolonged someone's life by a week even if the others in the trial were essentially killed by the 'new molecule'?
This went on with AMGEN and Johnson + Johnson with the EPO drug that Lance Armstrong so enjoyed. They sold this drug into many, many 'off label' side markets - could the same molecule be good for stroke victims too? No trial data, but with profits to be made this sort of thing happens.
You can market a drug a dozen ways even if it is only paracetemol. Back pain? You can buy this tablet. Hangover? This one mixed with caffeine. Kids version? Brightly coloured with a lower dose per pill. Easy.
Then there are those drugs sold with the 'dating website' business model. The 'dating website' business model is to have a few success stories but have everyone else paying their subscription as long as possible. Statins are sold like this, the Big Pharma scam is to have people on these things for life.
The rest of the world - Canada included - care about healthcare more than money. In the UK healthcare is a service, not a business first and foremost. The NHS has to balance the books but not be putting profit before people. In the US it is backwards.
The rest of the world would do better without U.S. Big Pharma stifling innovation and sponging off their citizens.
- chrisbennet 8y agoBut statins increase life expectancy from -5 to +19 days [1], surely that is worth the side effects and cost? [1] The effect of statins on average survival in randomised trials, an analysis of end point postponement http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/9/e007118 http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/9/e007118