Menu Close

Articles on Big Pharma

Displaying 41 - 60 of 110 articles

When drug companies and drug regulators, such as Health Canada, sit down together at “pre-submission meetings” this may have a negative impact on public health. (Shutterstock)

Health Canada and Big Pharma: Too close for comfort

Drug companies have a job to do and so does Health Canada. When the relationship becomes murky, the public are at risk.
Classified advertisement for Leslie Keeley’s Gold Cure. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune, July 21, 1884

Purdue Pharma taps a Gilded Age history of pharmaceutical fraud

Considered in historical context, Purdue’s plan to peddle opioid addiction medicines to vulnerable people is not so surprising. Gilded-Age pharmaceutical companies used similar strategies.
A new review of 372 patient group submissions to the Canadian Agency for Drugs or Technology in Health – about whether new medicines should be covered by public plans – reveals a total of 1896 conflicts of interest. (Shutterstock)

How Big Pharma donations may influence public drug coverage

A new study reveals how many patient groups lobby for new drugs to be funded by public plans in Canada – all while receiving funding from the companies manufacturing the drugs in question.
The lack of transparency seems to be worse in certain disease areas, including diabetes and heart disease. rawpixel

Influential doctors aren’t disclosing their drug company ties

Clinical guidelines have a big impact on the care you receive and the drugs you’re prescribed. But one in five doctors who write these guidelines have undisclosed ties to drug companies.
The Chronic Pain Association of Canada has received money from Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Purdue Canada Inc. and Merck Frosst Canada. A blog post on the association’s website contains messages favourable to increased opioid use. (Flickr/Ajay Suresh)

Why Big Pharma must disclose payments to patient groups

Evidence shows that opioid manufacturers fund patient advocacy groups in Canada, distorting policies to protect public health.
Pharmaceutical companies have traditionally been the ones to develop drugs. But for rare diseases university researchers may play a role. LeoWolfert/Shutterstock.com

Drug development is no longer just for Big Pharma. Researchers at Bio-X explain

Developing drugs is typically the domain of large pharmaceutical companies. But here is an example of drug development for a rare pediatric brain cancer that was done in a university setting.
The Family Medicine Forum, Nov. 9, 2017, the Palais des congrès de Montréal. (Twitter/@FamilyMedForum)

Family doctors are overdosing on industry sponsorship

This week’s annual Family Medicine Forum is an opportunity for your family doctor – to cave or resist in the face of Big Pharma sponsorship and marketing.
Research shows that money and meals from the pharmaceutical industry do increase the amount doctors prescribe the drugs being marketed. (Shutterstock)

What Big Pharma pays your doctor

Big Pharma in Canada is far behind the curve when it comes to disclosing what payments to health-care professionals are for.
Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase created a health venture in January. AP File Photos.

The Bezos-Buffett-Dimon health care venture: Eliminate the middlemen

Noted physician and author Atul Gawande was named CEO of a new health care venture aimed at cutting costs and improving care. But the most important man to keep an eye on in this effort isn’t Gawande. It’s the middleman.
As of June 2018, the U.S. is short on 182 drugs and medical supplies, including IV bags. Sherry Yates Young/shutterstock.com

Drug shortages pose a public health crisis in the US

The US is currently short on 182 drugs and medical supplies. The problem isn’t new, but it’s frustrating health care workers.
President Donald Trump releases a ‘blueprint’ to reduce prescription drug prices, with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, May 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

No, raising drug prices in Canada will not help the U.S.

The logic behind U.S. president Donald Trump’s proposal that Canada and other countries have been “free-riding” off high prices in the United States is bizarre at best.
Michelle Holley holds a photograph of her daughter Jaime Holley, 19, who died of a heroin overdose in November 2016. Lynne Sladky/AP Photo

The opioid epidemic in 6 charts

Your guide to a public health crisis that’s likely to get worse.
New Zealand shows up Australia as badly in the field of pharmaceuticals as it does on the rugby field. Dave Hunt/AAP

New Zealand steamrolls Australia on the pharmaceutical paddock too

Drug prices in Australia are three times higher than in New Zealand. A key reason is the lack of transparency about taxpayer subsidies for Big Pharma and the companies’ own finances.

Top contributors

More