In the Pharma World, Begging for Forgiveness is Much More Profitable

September 5th, 2009. By Hunter West

Just when, did the medical community begin serving the pharmaceutical industry—instead of the other way around? 

The recent fine levied against Pfizer for various marketing sins involving a handful of prescription drugs may well be the largest ($2.3 billion), and most comprehensive (Pfizer was required to sign an agreement of conduct that has been described as being the most stringent in history)—but it is by no means the first such case. Pharmaceutical companies have for years been bending the rules and circumventing regulations by promoting drugs off label (that’s illegal), and other unsavory activities, all in the quest for the mighty greenback. 

Doctors have been lavished with gifts in exchange for prescribing someone’s drug. They accept ‘consulting fees’ from pharmaceuticals in exchange for lecturing, in their own words mind you, on the benefits of a particular drug. It’s all perfectly legal, but it shouldn’t be. 

And that’s one of the many wrongs percolating in a health care system that’s severely broken and in need of overhaul. Read the rest of this entry »

Tagged.com: Add Sexual Assault Claim to Email Harvesting?

September 5th, 2009. By AbiK

“Tagged and Shagged?” could’ve been the headline for this one—but that would’ve been in really poor taste. Still, it’s at the heart of the story…

After posting about the Tagged.com lawsuit that was filed in California, along with NY State Attorney General Cuomo’s stating that he planned to sue Tagged.com for false advertising, invasion of privacy and egaging in deceptive business practice, seems Tagged.com has just been linked to a sexual assault case in Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that a 51-year old Hempfield woman met some 33-year old guy on Tagged.com and they started corresponding via email and had actually met on two occasions. But the third time wasn’t a charm. Seems for the third hook-up, the man called her Read the rest of this entry »

Flies, Frogs or Rodent Hair in food? Here’s what to do…

September 4th, 2009. By AbiK

The recent news of frog (toad?) remains in Fred DeNegri’s Diet Pepsi sounded less than appetizing. But I imagine “alarming” would be the more appropriate word for it if you were sitting in Fred’s shoes sipping back that fizz-laden refresher and…WHAM! Frog in your face!

Most of us (ok, me) would’ve hurled the can across the lawn and screamed a few high-pitched obscenities. But, let’s step back a moment—just what are you supposed to do? Who do you call? How do you call Pepsi (or its bottler) to task? The DeNegri’s had enough sense to do the right thing, but many of us don’t.

Here’s a little primer on “who you gonna call?” when something’s in your food or drink that shouldn’t be… Read the rest of this entry »

Hopping Mad at Pepsi Over Frog in Can

September 4th, 2009. By Hunter West

Amy DeNegri is hopping mad at Pepsi. You would be too, if you found the remains of a disemboweled frog (or perhaps a toad) in your can of soda. Imagine the feeling, the taste, and the horror of popping open a can of something that has been hermetically sealed so that not even an organism can get in, let alone a frog, and finding more than you bargained for? 

That’s what happened to Amy’s husband. Fred cracked open a fresh can of his favorite refreshment in the backyard while tending the BBQ. Something any of us would do. And no one would expect what greeted Fred when he took that long, first swig. 

What did it taste like? He didn’t say. But it was bad enough that he gagged. You would too, given that the Diet Pepsi he took into his mouth had, for an incalculable period of time, been working to corrode and decompose a frog that had somehow wandered or was pushed into the can.  Read the rest of this entry »

Alli Damage Control: Maybe it’s those extra pounds?

September 3rd, 2009. By AbiK

After recently posting about the FDA’s early communication on its safety review of Alli (aka orlistat) things seemed kind of quiet. The communication indicated that there had been reports of liver-related serious adverse events.

The Alli adverse event reports were low in numbers—especially when you consider that it was over a 9 year period. Regardless, there have been serious reports of liver injury. And once word came out about them via the FDA, Alli manufacturer GSK needed to respond.

So, GSK has begun its damage-control campaign—starting with yesterday’s press release that was carried on reuters.com with the following headline: “FDA states consumers should continue to use Alli”. That is a true statement—but it’s also standard operating procedure as far as FDA Read the rest of this entry »