Drug industry

Examines how pharmaceutical companies receive public funding for research and development (R&D) by way of tax benefits and federal public investment programs.

Discusses and debates the funding of women's health groups by drug companies. Presents arguemtns for both sides.

Summarizes findings of a report, "Drugs in the News," that found that newspaper articles more often emphasize the benefits of new drugs, while little attention is paid to possible harms. Includes a listing of known risks of new prescription drugs that are not listed in media reports, such as drug indications and contraindications, clinical benefits and harms, costs, etc.

Discusses proposed changes to European law to allow advertising of prescription drugs to treat AIDS, diabetes and asthma. Reviews evidence on effects of direct-to-consumer advertising.

Explores how the pharmaceutical industry encourages certain types of research that do not cure but require patients to remain on medication long term.

Explains that unexpected serious reactions often turn up after a drug appears on the market and that it can take years of use before doctors discover serious drug toxicity.

Criticizes the usefulness of the Menopause Home Test, a newly marketed product aimed at midlife women to monitor their hormonal status.

Examines whether Canadians can rely on daily newspapers to provide them with accuracte, credible information about new drugs. Demonstrates that newspaper articles more often emphasized the benefits of new drugs, paying less attention to possible harms, regardless of the length of the article and often failed to distinguish between real clinical benefits of a drug and merely changes in some measurement that is only a risk factor for disease.