PATENTING MEDICINES IS CRUEL - V. C. Nanda

Indian Med. Assoc. Bull. of Sept. 14, 04 carried the story of a suit filed by David Franklin (an insider) against Pfizer on the charge of suppression of a 1998 study of results regarding the drug Gabapentin. It had shown that the drug did not work for the advertised Bipolar Disorder. This was sought to be done by lavishing perks on doctors, giving generous fees to thought leaders, using ghostwriters, and planting people to ask favourable questions. The study report had also mentioned that a 16 year old committed suicide while taking this drug. The company paid $ 240 million as criminal fine and another 152 million as fine to State & Federal Healthcare. ............... .More