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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 05-15-2006
Quote of the day: I was brought up to believe that how I saw myself was more important than how others saw me. Anwar el-Sadat (1918 - 1981)
Bioethics 101 The fact is that there will not be enough vaccine against bird flu. (assuming that the disease enters the general population and is transmittable before we can globally protect the citizens of the world.) The question is…"Who gets the limited amount of vaccine?" Do we rank people by age? by health status? by economic resources? by IQ or SAT score? Many of the policy makers want health-care workers to be the first ones inoculated, then the frail elderly, people with special vulnerability, on down to funeral directors and finally the young (anyone under the age of 64. Is there a "right" answer? Like politics…it is all local…and depends on your age, health status, IQ, and economic resources. I'm sure that members of congress will see themselves as essential personnel and be the first in line. (What good is rank if rank does not have its privileges?) When we hear that the life of a young person has been lost in an untimely accident we are saddened. Why? Not only for the real loss but also for the loss of the potential that they represented. If your family was given 3 doses of H5N1 vaccine for every 5 people and the decision was left to the family…. how would you choose to use it? Should it go to the 'bread winner'?, the children?, the smartest? Tough questions…tough choices. I know what I would do but what would you do? http://ap.cjonline.com/pstories/health/20060511/3868409.shtml ... and Happy Mothers' Day to all of you (you know who you are). =================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Loved....now eat your vegitables!" (my mother)
pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience. ------------
1) Animal Activists Glaxo has won a suit against activists who want to ban animal testing of drugs and other household products. I wonder if they will refuse the 'bird flu' vaccine on ethical grounds…. http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/10/glaxosmit
2) Fat Lady Sings in "D" In sports they say "It ain't over until the fat lady sings". (This phrase is so ingrained in sports that few would even associate it with its origins as a redneck's guide to opera.) May 15th is the FINAL day for seniors to sign up for Medicare Part D. ( a small extension has been granted to the very poor http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/14539422.htm ).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2
http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=health&storyID=nN12441463
3) Can get satitisfaction New "fat drug" passes phase 2. Qnexa patients showed a 25 pound weight loss. Acts on the satiety center. Will be HUGE if it passes the rest of the hurdles. http://www.upi.com/HealthBusiness/view.php?StoryID=20060510-115540-9915r
4) Cut Consumer's Chronic Chemical Costs= Compliance Compliance= Controlled Corporate Costs Controlled Corporate Costs = Contageous Convivitility More screening and lower co-payments enhance health and compliance and lower employer costs. If we really believe that medications preserve health and provide cost avoidance then this appears to be a logical tack. It does insulate consumers from the real costs of the drugs but if the employers net costs are reduced by having a healthy workforce then it can make economic sense. http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/05/04/employers_focus_on_chronic_ailments/
5) Nutra-not-so-Sweet? Italian study claims link between aspartame and cancer. FDA and other analysis does not show a link. After 25 years of experience with NutraSweet, I'll go with the FDA's analysis. I don't ingest it because I'd rather have REAL sugar…. and don't forget to add the caffeine too! Aside: No one should cook with aspartame because it does turn into a toxin when heated.
6) Kickbacks Knock Knockwurst. out of Medco earning. No admission of wrongdoing in settlement. The stock went up as this looming cloud finally passes. http://yahoo.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompanyNewsA
7) 40% Bogus Two of five malpractice claims have no basis in fact. Congressional action to limit settlements will be opposed by trial lawyers (at least two of every 5). http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/living/health/14550915.htm
8) New smoking drug approved Chantix (varenicline tartrate) tablets give some nicotine-like effects but block the effects of "real" nicotine. This looks like it could be a real winner (like all of those who will kick the habit this year!) http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01370.html
Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week. Steve Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2006 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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