BIG PHARMA'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
BY
KATHLEEN DEOUL
(V of XII)

THE OTHER DIRTY LITTLE SECRET

Two recent studies have exposed another of Big Pharma's dirty little secrets: many of the new and expensive drugs they're pushing on patients and doctors are not as effective as the ones they're intended to replace!

Researchers in St. Louis examined claims data from a major Midwestern health provider to see if the actual results of using expensive pain relievers like Vioxx and Celebrex matched the assumed efficacy of the studies used to demonstrate their value.

The results of their analysis were reported in the November, 2003 issue of the Journal of Managed Care.

One of the things they examined most closely was the rate at which patients taking COX-2 inhibitors were also using drugs to prevent heartburn or ulcers. According to the research presented to win approval of these drugs, patients taking them shouldn't have to take the anti-ulcer and heartburn medications.

Well, as it turns out, like much drug company research, the claim was a lot of hooey!