BIG PHARMA IS HOLDING
OUT ON US
Drugs cost
almost nothing to manufacture, but the companies charge us a fortune for them.
Some
alternate medical treatment is disregarded if it cuts in on sales of successful
(profitable) drugs.
Companies do
not develop drugs for little known unprofitable diseases.
Big Pharmacy
companies lie about the benefits and the side effects of their drugs.
Big Pharmacy
companies use four year old children from third world companies to make their
pills.
Big Pharmacy
companies test their drugs on Labrador puppies.
Some of
these complaints may not be true. Some
are true but there may be mitigating circumstances such as exorbitant costs to
develop and test their drugs.
I have one
complaint that receives very little attention, but is typical of Drug Company’s
disdain for society and the well being of the world’s citizens.
All the drug
companies, every one, have a drug that cures or protects at least 8-10% of
everyone who uses it. Think of it, one
drug, taken once a day that has absolutely no side effects and will protect at
least 8% of the world from every disease or condition known to man and will
cure 8% of everyone suffering from any disease known to man.
This drug
will cure baldness 8-10% of the time. It
is not released as it will cut into the sales for Rogaine.
This drug is
proven to cure sexual dysfunction problems in 8-10% of people treated with
it. It will not be released as it will
cut into the profitable sales of Viagra.
Will this
drug cure cancer? In 8-10% of people
treated with it…YES! But it is not
profitable, so it will not be released.
In every
drug ever tested, this formula is successful in at least 8-10% of the group it
is given to.
There is no
excuse for this drug to not be offered on the market. The heck with profits, the good of the many
is at stake. Just imagine the reduction
in healthcare costs if 8-10% of all diseases or medical conditions can be cured
or avoided.
I for one
have had enough of this injustice. I
demand the immediate over-the-counter release of this drug not today, but
YESTERDAY!
Big Pharma
profits be damned.
Release the
miracle drug…Placebo!
Big insurance has as much to answer for as big pharma, the gist of your post notwithstanding. Generic drugs are formulated by deconstructing the original, not by having the original recipe. They also, by law, may vary in effectiveness ten percent either way. In other words, switching to a generic is a crap shoot. Commencing this year big insurance has openly forced consumers back to generics. My safe and effective blood pressure medication changed at January first from ten dollars a month to $130. I had to go to the generic ($3.00/month) or get another job. The generic is not manufactured in the dose I've always taken, forcing me to a higher dose, which may come out of the bottle ten percent lower than the stated dose, the one I need, or ten percent higher, 20 percent more than I need, or at it's stated strength, a mere ten percent more than I need. By day's end my body can tell what I swallowed each morning.
ReplyDeleteThis post was, of course, tongue in cheek, but you make a good point about Insurance, they do put money ahead of health. Economics do need to be considered, but I wish they allowed doctors more control in these kinds of decisions. I know little about generics, I am sure in most cases they are safe and a good alternative, but you make a great point especially for conditions that rely on a delicate balance of the drug.
DeleteVery true about Placebo. I've been using it for years. It cured my warts, an ingrown toenail, a hideous case of MG (melancholy gizzard) and also helps with my chronic Overabundant Booger Syndrome (OBS). I recommend it highly.
ReplyDeleteMy last gig before retiring was 12 years consulting for big pharma, mostly in testing protocol design. I'm pretty unsympathetic towards them, but one point should be realized, you touched on it briefly: the cost of research and testing before one pill is sold. And, the drugs that never get to market. One company that I won't name except to say it's Pfizer, spent roughly 75 mill on an inhaled insulin before dropping it because one cohort developed a larger than the baseline lung CA. This was the previous smoker cohort; I felt they had just discovered that smoking causes CA, but they still dropped it and took a big hit.
ReplyDeleteBut.....big pharma has plenty to feel guilty about.
Does that company you will not name rhyme with Budweiser?
DeleteI think you're on to something here Cranky. Pass that pill will you.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous Friday. ☺
LOL, didn't see that one coming, but so true because people do feel better when they are doing a drug study and they might be the one getting the placebo. I remember my years working in doctors' offices when the drug reps would come in to "sell" their stuff to the doctors. They would bring samples of the drugs, but also pens, coffee cups, note pads, etc., etc., and grace the doctors at Christmas with gifts and lunches out, etc. Now a lot of that has changed with what they can do, which is probably a good thing. All those "freebies" cost someone money and it was more than likely the poor people paying for the medicine.
ReplyDeletebetty
haha. the power of positive thinking in a pill.
ReplyDeletevitamins......do not trust drug companies period they are satan...Please if this make no sense I have lost my mind in perimenopausal hell ;0)
ReplyDeleteHa.. clever you. As I was reading, I even thought "yeah, but same with a placebo effect" and didn't even realize you were going there.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you but that's scary because one of my sons is a drug rep!!
ReplyDeletePlacebo has always been my choice. I hate drugs nearly as much as I hate drug companies.
ReplyDeleteHa, you caught me on that one Cranky and I totally agree. I have enjoyed the placebo effect from a lot of things that are kind of out there medically but hey, what ever works is fine by me. The mind is a powerful drug.
ReplyDeleteWhile i have a lot against Big Pharma, the one thing i do understand it that it costs them millions to create the drug and bring it to the market, they have to charge enough for it in the years it's covered by a patent to make back their money, plus a profit so they can work on other new meds. As much as i don't like it, they have to charge what it cost them.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this one dude. You nailed it.
ReplyDeleteR
But the problem is, for placebo to work it has to be sold at a high price!
ReplyDeleteThis is what chaps me....many wealthy, "socialized" countries dictate what the drug companies can sell their drugs for there, which is often just slightly more than it costs to produce. In other words, all those massive R&D costs already mentioned are borne by US citizens because we don't regulate what Big Pharma can charge here. We're getting screwed, without even getting a little kiss. Thanks world!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this Placebo drug and I've heard rumors that a spoonful of sugar is just as good. Doesn't even have to be a large spoonful, one of those tiny salt spoons will do. And it's far cheaper!
ReplyDeleteI've also heard rumors about parmaceutical companies developing stuff that gives the population a problem, then they rake in millions by selling the cure for that problem.
I'm concerned about Joanne's experience with Generics. a varying does each time? May or may not be the right dose? That's awful! Here in Australia, with Generics, the "active" part of the prescription is exactly the same as in the brand name medication, all that's missing is the brand name and/or the fancier container and the "filler' part of the drug may be a cheaper option or only at half the amount. But the dosage remains the same and is just as effective.
ReplyDeleteThe dose is supposed to be the same or at least be accurately represented, I am sure for the vast majority of generics this is not an issue, but I would not quibble with Joanne, she is a smart lady, if she says there is an issue with the drug she takes, there is an issue.
DeleteHere's my recipe for Placebo:
ReplyDelete50% good attitude
10% good friends and family
10% good diet
10% Merlot, or some other enjoyable beverage
10% dark chocolate
5% coffee
5% miscellaneous ingredients
Really, I should be rich...