The social responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry

From: fresh~horses (fresh~horses_at_despammed.com)
Date: 08/29/04 

Date: 29 Aug 2004 10:52:10 -0700

http://cvm.controlled-trials.com/content/5/1/6
Balancing commercial and public interests
Curt D Furberg*1, Mark A Hall1 and Mary Ann Sevick2

Too big to copy all here but relevant I think to current discussions
and to cardiology interests. Zee

"A problem which has not previously been identified relates to
non-comparability of drugs. A case report from the Antihypertensive
and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT)
illustrates how public interests may be violated due to failure to
inform about drug inferiority. The current system for dissemination of
relevant medical information could be improved if all involved parties
collaborated fully. However, full disclosure of trial results is
unlikely when research results are unfavorable to the firm. We
conclude that expanded government regulations will be required for a
satisfactory solution to the problem."

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