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TO THE EDITOR:
If investments in US drug research have been increasing since 1990, but the rate of drug discoveries has remained constant, where is the money going? (UMDNJ researcher finds Europe ahead of U.S. in global drug discovery Aug 26) Pharmaceutical companies are certainly working hard to ensure health care reform does not hurt their profits. Major drug associations such as PhRMA and Pfizer have spent $6.2 million and $5.6 million respectively in the last quarter alone lobbying Congress on health care.
The fight for meaningful healthcare reform will ultimately depend on whether or not everyday people are heard. Comparative effectiveness research will keep money in our pockets by making sure we pay only for medications proven to treat our conditions, and not only for drugs advertised on TV and in magazines.
If we want to get health care costs under control, we'll need to make ourselves heard over the torrent of money being spent to promote the industry's position.
.....Afaganistan is the number producer of OPIUM.......what's the common derivative in 90% of pain meds? Why are we over in Afganistan?.....288 MILLION DOLLARS spent by BIG PHARM to your Congressman...WOW! is someone getting paid? Your life don't count...It's the economy silly....TRILLION DOLLAR PROFITS...party on!