pharma
Who will pay for DTC pharma ad oversight?
Right now, there's a little-watched debate underway on the Hill which could have a meaningful influence on the growth of direct-to-consumer pharma advertising. The question is whether Congress should... Read more...
FDA rules on off-label article distribution issued
The FDA may soon be loosening its guidelines for distribution of journal articles discussing unapproved uses of approved drugs and devices, a move which some consumer advocates (and some legislators)... Read more...
Merck agrees to pay$650M+ to settle suits
Merck has agreed to pay more than $650 million to settle two whistleblower suits, the U.S. Justice Department has announced. One of the suits claimed that the pharma paid providers to use its... Read more...
ALSO NOTED: Cincinnati hospitals give $44M in charity care; FDA gets tiny funding boost; and much more...
> Greater Cincinnati's hospitals have released a report which concludes that they gave more than $44 million in free care out in 2007. Read more...
Study:Many MDs won't see sales reps
A new study suggests that nearly one-fifth of office-based physicians refuse to see sales reps from the drug and device industry, and nearly 23 percent more won't see the reps unless they set an... Read more...
DC passes pharma rep licensing rule
Though it backed out of plans for prescription-data-mining limits which have been struck down in New Hampshire and Maine, DC has passed what may be the country's first rules requiring the licensing... Read more...
Statin drug probably not going OTC
Apparently, the third time wasn't the charm. Last week, FDA advisory committees recommended that the agency not approve over-the-counter status for statin drug Mevacor. This is Merck's third attempt... Read more...
ALSO NOTED: MA postpones retail clinic vote; Nuclear medicine supplies to resume; and much more...
> Massachusetts health authorities have postponed voting on whether to allow retail clinics to open in the state until January 2008. Read more...
Coalition urges changes in controlled-substance prescribing
A group of IT and pharma-related companies has begun lobbying for changes in the rules around controlled drugs which would allow physicians to prescribe them electronically. Members of the group, the... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: Top 10 drug warnings and recalls of 2007
Top 10 drug warnings and recalls of 2007This has been a big year for drug warnings and recalls, with hugely-popular drugs like diabetes med Avandia facing harsh criticism and even threats of removal... Read more...
