Pharmaceutical Fast Facts

1. ScienceDaily (Jan. 7, 2008) — A new study by two York University researchers estimates the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spends almost twice as much on promotion as it does on research and development, contrary to the industry’s claim. The researchers’ estimate is based on the systematic collection of data directly from the industry and doctors during 2004, which shows the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent 24.4% of the sales dollar on promotion, versus 13.4% for research and development, as a percentage of US domestic sales of US$235.4 billion.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080105140107.htm
2. "Science no longer prevails in medicine. Instead, modern medicine has been democratized. Drug approval is a simple matter of 51 percent telling the other 49 percent that a prescription drug is safe and necessary. The outcome: Deadly drugs are approved for use among misinformed medical doctors and patients...DTC advertising forges a belief among the general public which asserts that drugs—not lifestyle habits and nutrition— confer health and longevity. And although, in reality, medicine is only necessary for sick people in times of emergency, DTC advertising has been wildly successful in convincing people that being healthy requires a lifetime of prescription drug use. While it’s true that the advertising usually mentions the potential side effects of drugs, doctors tend to discount them. They simply regurgitate the pharmaceutical-company line that "the benefits of a drug outweigh the risks." -Shane Ellison-Rouge Chemist turned consumer health advocate. He has been quoted by USA Today, Shape, Woman’s World, as well as Women’s Health and has served as guest speaker for large corporations like BP and appeared on Fox and NBC as a natural medicine advocate.