Narco Non Victims » Pharmaceuticals

So Who Do You Believe? Pharmaceutical Ethics

maureen — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:07:28 +0000

There are various reasons why many people are skeptical about taking prescribed medications. Some believe that there are just too many chemicals in them and would prefer a more natural approach. Others feel that prescribed drugs are being used too freely. What many people have not considered though is the fact that they may be being deceived regarding the quality of the prescribed medications.

We all assume that medical research is documented and properly researched at least when it comes to inventing new drugs and treatments. After all, we have strict government regulations in place to ensure our safety. It appears that we may not be as protected as we may assume.

It has been found that a particular pharmaceutical company has been using employees to ghostwrite research material and then having the appropriate medical personnel attach their names to it thus making it appear as valid research information. Yikes! What makes it even more disturbing is that it doesn’t seem to be an isolated incident. Apparently, there are numerous claims that ghostwriting medical research is a common practice within the pharmaceutical industry.

Not only can this practice be viewed as alarming and dangerous but using another’s research is also unethical. Coming to basic facts, it is downright scary because it involves public health and safety. So far, little news press has been given to the potentially grave consequences of these practices, but the US Food and Drug Administration are now in the process of determining whether to allow the circulation of peer-reviewed journal articles to be used as guides. While in the past physicians have used these articles to determine drugs of choice for a particular patient, the FDA will look into the efficacy and safety of this practice to decide its future worth.

What needs to be taken into consideration is how much attention does the professional signing this research really give to its content? He or she could be recommending a medication that will reach the people at large and could prove not only mildly detrimental but also downright dangerous. After all, professionals are needed in medical and pharmaceutical research to prevent such an eventuality. If their research means so little, then why not dispense with it and let the ghostwriters do the research and clear the drug for open market? All of the current indicators are pointing in this direction right now. No claims can or should be made that this is happening in every pharmaceutical company as they each have individual moral and ethical standards. We the public can only hope that the companies making such prescribed drugs fall into the “good moral” category.

One good aspect is that at least this deception is being brought to light. Other pharmaceutical companies that are walking a fine line on this issue may think twice about the consequences of their actions. For all of our sakes let’s hope that they do.

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Pharmaceutical guide

maureen — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 03:08:14 +0000

If asked to name one thing that affects our life in most phases one would hardly say pharmaceuticals. But wait this is a fact that most of us since our birth depend on pharmaceuticals in one-way or other. Definitely by age our dependence on pharmacy products increases but even teenagers and young ones consume a big percentage of pharmaceutical derivatives.

Pharmaceuticals play a vital role in our day-to-day living. And hence their rising costs are destined to be our major concern. The ever growing prices of pharmaceutical products severely pinches oneâ€™s pocket, cause this is one area where there is no choice of take or leave. If a person is suffering from certain disease and the doctor prescribes him any medicines he must purchase it whether it suits his pocket or not. One is left with no choice but to pay the chemist. Hence there is a great need to regulate the prices of drugs, at least to watch that its price is not much above the cost incurred plus a marginal profit for the manufacturing company. As of now many market leaders are found to price their monopoly drugs at a very high rate. Even medicines or regular use are very costly. Drugs sold by prescription being much more expensive than those sold over the counter by the chemist. Hence, a person is often tempted to go for over the counter choice.

Big pharmaceutical players in the market also pay much attention to research and development of new medications possible. A big amount of money is invested in the R & D branch of the industry. Based on the market requirements and demands companies try hard to invent a suitable drug to cure any ailment. Millions are spend in this type of research. And once any company hopes to have created any new medicine it has to pass through many different stages to get the approval of the drug controlling authority, FDA. FDA governs the stages of research, development and manufacture that have been undergone for any new drug before being exposed to consumers. Only after it has approved and given its quality assurance any drug shall be sold to public.

Even before any drug is presented to FDA it undergoes intensive testing which is carried on animals and even humans. These tests confirm about the effectiveness of the medicine and makes sure that the invented drug does not have any serious side effects. Animals that are used to carry these tests often raise a controversy among the environmentalists. They strongly object about animals being tortured for the benefit of mankind. While the companies defend by saying that it is important to save mankind and those animals can easily reproduce. Whatever be the case this controversy goes on forever without a suitable solution. All this research work is necessary so that the ultimate consumer gets nothing but the best.

With the high growth rate in the pharmaceutical industry all the companies employed in this sector are facing though competition. There is a constant endeavor to attract the consumers by direct marketing and efficient advertising plans targeted towards customers. We all need to be aware of what types of drugs are available in the market and take our judgment meticulously and not get carried away by advertisements.

Transitioning to a Career in Pharmaceutical Sales

maureen — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:09:05 +0000

If you are considering switching to a career in pharmaceutical sales there are a number of factors to take into account. Pharmaceutical sales is a rapidly growing field, and one with impressive potential for success. However, it is also highly competitive and demanding, requiring a high degree of dedication and ongoing learning in order to be successful.

To get you started, you can join numerous trade associations that oversee the training and development of professionals in pharmaceutical sales. These organizations offer certification, create professional and ethical standards, and help industry professionals stay on top of current information including FDA regulations, legal issues, clinical research updates, and so on.

In order to get into pharmaceutical sales, a science background is recommended, and a college degree is the norm. It is essential that pharmaceutical sales representatives be able to discuss their products with a wide range of individuals including other medical professionals. For some, this challenging and ever-changing aspect of the job is what makes it exciting, while others may find the nature of the job too demanding. It is important to take into consideration other lifestyle commitments and priorities when considering this type of career move.

Fortunately there is plenty of information available to help you make the decision to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales. Books and websites created by industry professionals are many, in addition to the information made available by the associations. There are also lots of options for pursuing certification, with training at all levels available online, through correspondence, or by direct study at hundreds of colleges and universities.

As with any type of sales career, there is a certain amount of stress involved in this line of work, and individuals in this field need to demonstrate a positive attitude, persistence, resourcefulness, and dedication. You are likely to spend a large percentage of your time on the road and must decide if this lifestyle will work for you and your family. The good news is, due to the nature of the industry, there is a high degree of repeat business. Orders need to be refilled consistently, and the large profit margins of pharmaceutical companies means there are large commissions to be made.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this competitive market, do some research into the jobs available by browsing company websites, and information posted by the industry associations. As with any major career decision, consider your options from all angles, ensuring a good fit for your interests, skills, and natural strengths. Numerous possibilities await your discovery.

Searching Online for a Pharmaceutical Sales Job

maureen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 03:11:08 +0000

The approaches to searching for Pharmaceutical Sales jobs online are similar to that in other professions. You can structure your search in one of several ways:

Industry Associations: Many organizations offer job posting sections on their websites for members to browse. This may or may not gain you access to postings not available to the general public. However, it is a good idea to visit your association’s website regularly in the interest of staying informed and take advantage of any benefits you are entitled to as a member. Ongoing professional development is an essential component of pharmaceutical sales, and there are many associations that can help keep you up to speed. These sites also offer links to their associated pharmaceutical companies.

Pharmaceutical company websites: Make sure you are familiar with the top pharmaceutical companies and visit their websites directly to keep up to date on available positions. This can be a good approach because it helps you glean other valuable information about the company in addition to current postings, such as corporate culture, product knowledge, industry trends, and so on. By reviewing the companies’ financial statistics, you can also take into consideration which workplace might be the most profitable for you.

General job search websites: The major job websites such as monster.com offer searches by industry, keyword, location, etc. This is useful if you know where you want to work, or to gain an overview of what’s available across the country. This method allows you to compare opportunities at different companies, as well as view jobs in similar fields. Unless you have decided to target your search to a small number of specific companies, this is probably the best and quickest way to view the greatest number of opportunities.

Paid searches by companies that specialize in helping you find pharmaceutical jobs: If you don’t want to devote the necessary time and energy to searching yourself, there are organizations that will do the searching for you, but investigate the costs ahead of time.

Search engines: To broaden your search, simply type keywords such as “pharmaceutical jobs” into any major search engine. The internet’s resources are vast and the possibilities almost limitless. Be prepared to spend a lot of time weeding through a wide range of websites if this is your approach, but sometimes it is worth it for the unexpected gem you may unearth.

Whichever combination of approaches you use, the internet is a valuable resource in bringing you a wealth of information to use in determining your next career move. It has never been easier to access company profiles and opportunities, so spend some time comparing the possibilities available to you. Make informed decisions in creating the most fulfilling career possible.

Innovation and Change in Pharmaceutical Industry

maureen — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:08:20 +0000

Achilladelis and Antonakis conducted a historical study of the dynamics and tendencies of technological innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. From this standpoint, pursuing increase in market share, major pharma companies undertake mergers and acquisitions. As the majority of specialists points out, particularly mergers and acquisitions are considered to be essential ways to obtain innovation capabilities and assuming control levers of any major technological changes within biotech industry. For instance, in the beginning of 90s, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Hoffmann-La Roche after creating a complex network of licensing and research agreements, embraced a new strategy that quickly moved the firm more deeply into the biotech field. In effect, Roche decided to transplant a generalized biotech capability through acquisition. It began by buying equity stakes in the biotechs with which it was collaborating, a relatively common element in the large firm/small firm alliances in this industry. But next, it broke the mold by purchasing a controlling (60%) share of the most successful of the biotech startups, Genentech. Meanwhile, the Swiss firm was spending between $130 and $140 million a year on its in-house capabilities in the new field.

By the mid-1990s, it was becoming apparent that various kinds of collaborative arrangements between biotechs and pharmaceutical companies would continue to be an important feature of the current long cycle of innovation in this industry. As Glaxo’s director of corporate development explained, “No emerging or established pharmaceutical company is large enough, or smart enough to meet all of its knowledge needs in isolation.” The front across which change was taking place in the biomedical sciences was so broad that even the largest pharmaceutical firms could no longer bring in-house all of the research capabilities they needed. Indeed, the “knowledge needs” were so pressing that they had given rise to a new subdiscipline, “bioinformatics,” that combined genomic information with computer technology in order to make data more widely available to scientists.

One of the peculiar trends regarding innovation in pharmaceutical industry is that R&D represents a major determinant of company’s competitiveness. Simultaneously, large pharmaceutical firms transfer their R&D activities to so-called dedicated biotechnology firms, because they usually have higher innovative capabilities.

Pharmaceutical Treatments – a Revolution in the Pharmaceutical Industry

maureen — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:09:00 +0000

Today, a wide range of pharmaceutical treatments are available for patients suffering from various diseases & coming from all walks of life.

When it comes to Pharmaceutical treatments for severe depression, there is a variety of treatments available for patients these days with an assurance of enhancements in the health of the patient. Severe depression is a kind of illness thatâs characterized by an intense and deep feeling of sadness & hopelessness. This disease is further identified by a greater sense of worthlessness. You would also find symptoms that lead you to thoughts of committing suicide.

Certain symptoms of severe depression include loss of interest in enjoyable activities such as sex. There is also a great change in the individualâs overall appearance, appetite & weight.

Here, is a list of certain Pharmaceutical products used in treating severe depression. These are usually known as anti depressants.

a) Trycylic antidepressants: These drugs usually affect the levels of two different neurotransmitters, Norepinephrine as well as serotonin inside the brain. These have certain side effects.

b) MAOIs: Popularly referred to as Monomine Oxidase Inhibitors, these are one of the earliest forms of depressants. These drugs are used for patients who cannot respond to any other form of antidepressants.

c) SSRIs: These are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the latest form of anti-depressants. They work specifically via changing the amounts of serotonin inside the brain.

d) SSNRIs: known as Selective Serotonin & Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors facilitate to enhance the bioavailability of both serotonin & Norepinephrine.

Almost all treatments are effective for severe depression. When it comes to severe depression more than one treatment may be used.

Certain major pharmaceutical treatments can be used for treating severe depression.

a) Chemotherapy: This is a systemic therapy affects the whole body via the bloodstream. Here, the physician works towards removing any cancer cells that may have already spread to others parts of the body from the site of the original cancer.

b) Hormonal Treatments: The therapy is very effective against breast cancer that is hormone-receptor- positive.

Tamoxites has been famous for treatment for woman with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. This medicine is fully funded in New Zealand.

These days, a variety of drugs approved for people suffering from depression due to alcohol dependence.

There are certain medicines available for this purpose such as Disulfiram, Naltrexone & Acamprosate. Disulfiram is the first medicine highly approved for the treatment of alcohol abuse & alcohol dependence. Another medicine known as Naltrexone is sold under the brand names Revia & Depade. Campral is brand name for acamprosate. It is the most recent medication approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence or alcoholism in America. It works towards reducing the physical distress & even emotional discomfort that most people usually experience once they quit drinking.

Overall, pharmaceutical treatments for severe depression can be helpful only under cases where patients under go full treatments & show will power to get out of the current situation they are stucked in.

We are manufacturer and supplier of Pharmaceuticals, ophthalmic, ENT, hospital furnishers, IOL & contact lenses, optical and surgical instruments.

Want a Pharmaceutical Sales Job?

maureen — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:10:56 +0000

www.drugrepcareer.com

Are you thinking you might be interested in pursuing a career in selling drugs? No, not the illegal kind, silly. Iâm talking about the LEGAL stuff, a real job: selling pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical business is a fun, although demanding, job. It is also an extremely competitive career path (for those who love competition).

I am sure that you have read online or heard from a relative about how someone who is six degrees separated from you started their career and has made a fortune in this industry. I hear about it all the time. Stories like that are rampant in this business and at your parentâs dinner table. All you hear is BLAH, BLAH, BLAH about a distant cousin is now making great money in the pharmaceutical industry.

Unfortunately some people who think they might be interested find it nearly impossible to learn about the business. They donât know exactly how to find out what a pharmaceutical sales rep does all day. They donât know where to look for more information, they donât know how to look for such a job, and they donât have any connections in the industry to help them out. One of the reasons why many recent college graduates are faced with a situation like this is because academia has not taught you anything about job searches.

The problem with college education is that they teach you absolutely nothing about the real world. A professor spoon feeds college students with theories and formulas that someone developed 150 years ago that are used in the classroom and left in the classroom. Yet, the basics like interviewing, networking, accepting the right job, understanding a 401 (K), or a health benefits package no one have even dared to talk about. What the college/university setting has neglected in teaching you, I have made up for it in this pharmaceutical career e-book. So letâs go to school!

I write this e-book for the newly minted recent college graduates like you who want to break into the pharmaceutical industry. I am eager to share with you:

Â· What to expect

Â· What to do

Â· What not to do

Â· Where to look

on your pursuit towards landing a job in this industry. Donât worry; I will make it fun! If you want to take your first step towards a career in the pharmaceutical industry:

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Pharmaceutical Strategic Initiatives Adds Veteran Medical Affairs Specialist, Jeffrey S. New, to Management Team

maureen — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:11:39 +0000

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK—Pharmaceutical Strategic Initiatives (PSI), the leading provider of medical affairs strategic consulting and content development services to pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies, has hired Jeffrey S. New, BS, PharmD, as Vice President of Medical Activities. Dr. New will be based in Research Triangle Park.

Dr. New joins PSI as the company celebrates its 22nd year. PSI has worked on hundreds of projects dealing with strategic consulting, opinion-leader management, high-level content development and health outcomes research with both large and emerging life sciences companies. PSI focuses on six therapeutic areas:

Â· Cardiovascular

Â· Bone and Metabolism

Â· Oncology

Â· Pain

Â· Respiratory

Â· Specialty Therapeutics

Dr. New brings more than 17 years of pharmaceutical experience to PSI. His most recent work includes senior management responsibilities related to medical information, field-based medical liaisons, drug development strategy, drug safety/pharmacovigilance, and medical education and publications.

PSI Founder and President, Charles Carter, PhD, calls Dr. New an innovator in medical affairs, bringing valuable clinical and industry experience in the life sciences to PSI. âWe are the most experienced provider of strategic services across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industry,â says Dr. Carter. âJeff brings the clinical and industry experience that the Medical Affairs Departments of our corporate clients require to successfully development and implement their integrated medical affairs strategies.â

âPSI is the smartest, fastest and safest solution for providing strategic services to emerging biotech, medical and pharmaceutical companies that are on the cutting edge of research,â adds Dr. New. âI look forward to helping our clients bring life saving medicines and medical devices to production.â

Prior to joining PSI, Dr. New was Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs at DEY, L.P., Inc, a subsidiary of Mylan Inc. in Napa, California.

About Pharmaceutical Strategic Initiatives

PSI is the leading provider of medical affairs strategic consulting and content development services to the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industry. Since 1988 PSI has worked on hundreds of engagements dealing with strategic consulting, opinion-leader management, high-level content development and health outcomes research with both large and emerging life sciences companies. For more information about PSI, contact Mary Messina at 919.314.1380 or visit www.psillc.com.

About Interactive Holdings, LLC

Interactive Holdings is a leading digital marketing and presentation operating company. For more information about Interactive Holdings, contact Ellen Weber at 919.763.1400 or visit www.interactive-holdings.com.

What Is Pharmaceutical Grade Omega 3?

maureen — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:10:28 +0000

The term Pharmaceutical grade omega 3 has been ‘coined’ in the Omega 3 supplement production industry as a way of helping the consumer to focus in on a quality product. Yes, it is an attention grabbing terminology because we all associate a product that we believe is pharmaceutical grade with the pinnacle of industry standards in purity and production quality. Here’s the question though. Is pharmaceutical grade omega 3 a real term that has relevance in the production and purity of omega 3 fish oil products or is it simply a marketing terminology? You have no doubt heard or read somewhere that pollution in the world’s oceans is now a real cause for concern when choosing to eat fish or sea food on a regular basis. General official recommendations advise that you keep your fresh fish intake to about twice a week to minimize exposure to pollutants. This is unfortunate given the health benefits associated with eating fish. Although there is much scientific research that should now positively reinforce your decision to include more omega 3 fatty acids in your diet, how do you get around the very real issue of heavy metals such as lead and mercury along with dioxins and pcb’s being present in your food choice? As a consumer, you can’t be expected to know what is safe to eat and what isn’t unless manufacturers and suppliers are required to publish and adhere to certain safety standards. The benefits to ones health from eating fish is known to be associated with the presence of omega 3 fatty acids in the flesh of the fish. Omega 3 fatty acids are actually fats. They are termed good fats because a significant amount of scientific research spanning several decades has shown without doubt that cardiovascular and brain health just to name two important body systems are very reliant on a regular dietary source of these fats. Because issues have been raised about contamination in the world’s oceans, attention has turned to dietary supplements that contain the important health benefiting factors found in omega 3 fish oil. The idea behind supplementation is that we could perhaps make up for the short fall in dietary omega 3 by daily taking one or more capsules that contain the oil blend. Unfortunately, the same issues of contamination apply to fish oil as it does to fresh fish. Because not all supplement manufactures are reputable, pharmaceutical grade omega 3 came into being as a term to direct consumers toward a better quality product. However, it is not a term that is used by independent batch testing laboratories. A batch testing laboratory tests a manufacturer’s product against a set of standards. The term pharmaceutical grade omega 3 does not indicate the purity of a product in any official capacity, it is not a scientific term. It may well be that if a product is marketed as being pharmaceutical grade that it is of very high quality and purity…however a competing product may also claim the same thing, but on closer analysis the two products could vary significantly. Fortunately for the consumer, a set of voluntary standards does exist which is called a voluntary monograph. The monograph recommends standards for the presence of environmental contaminants. Unfortunately for the consumer, there are several proposed standards and they are entirely voluntary from the manufacturer’s perspective, so it’s a case of consumer beware. Make sure your product of choice has been measured against a standard of the highest quality. The IFOS or International fish oil standards have become quite well known in the industry. Any product that equals or exceeds the standards that IFOS apply to their clients products when tested would be worthy of your attention. The important issue is not whether your product markets itself as being pharmaceutical grade omega 3 fish oil but rather if the manufacturers have been willing to subject their products to independent testing. Your safety is of primary importance as is being able to achieve long term health benefits from your preferred product(s). This after all is why you would choose to supplement in the first place.

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, Pregabalin,

maureen — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 03:07:45 +0000

When is Pregabalin useful?Pregabalin is very useful for treatment of chronic pains in the condition of fibromylagia. It also helps in pains associated with injuries to the spinal cord. The drug Pregabalin is approved by FDA and is best used in the treatment of fibromylagia. There is very little scope for abuse with the active pharmaceutical ingredients present in Pregabalin and hence even if it is misused there are minimal risks associated to get fast cash loans.

How it worksThe drug Pregabalin works by binding to the calcium channels located inside the CNS or central nervous system. This helps reduce influx of calcium into the terminals of the nerve endings. By such a binding action, Pregabalin helps to combat neurotransmitter release like noradrenaline, glutamate etc.

Treatments used forThe active pharmaceutical ingredients found in Pregabalin are largely used in treatment of pains in herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy etc. In adults, it is used for adjunctive therapy. It is also used in fibromylagia and for anxiety disorders, as described above.Side effectsPregabalin can cause side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness, blurring of vision, tremors, general lethargy, sense of euphoria, dry mouth conditions etc. It can also result in depression, hallucinations, agitation, excess salivation and other associated conditions.Budesonide – treatment, side effects, workingsBudesonide is one of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used to treat chronic cases of asthma. It is also used to treat rhinitis of the non-chronic sort. Various conditions like nasal polyposis can be alleviated with the usage of Budesonide. Some of the common side-effects associated with these active pharmaceutical ingredients include lightheadedness, cough, upset stomach, sores or bleeding in nose, rashes, bad taste of the mouth, acne, mucus color changes etc. The metabolism rate of Budesonide is very fast and it results in lesser loss of bone density as compared with corticosteroids. Various systemic manifestations are far less likely to occur when treatment with Budesonide is conducted.

Brand nameThe active pharmaceutical ingredients found in Budesonide are marketed by Eurofarma under the brand name of Noex. When used in combination with formoterol, Budesonide is used as an inhaler to treat nasal inflammations and other conditions. The brand name for this combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients is called Symbicort. Some of the other side effects associated with Budesonide usage for prolonged periods include serious conditions like irregularities in menstruation, face swelling, difficulty breathing, severe forms of acne breakouts, behavioral changes especially in children, presence of white patches in the nose, throat, mouth etc. If any of these more serious conditions are noted then you need to mention it to your doctor immediately. Active pharmaceutical ingredients are concentrated forms of medicine and their usage should be administered judiciously.