Who Really Believes that Only AZ are Greedy Captialists?

"AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers, Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough are defendants in a suit in Massachussetts and the litigation has revealed that they encouraged cancer docs to prescribe their drugs based on price rather than diagnosis."

Please read this post courtesy of NRx. It shows and links to other posts that Johnson and Johnson and several of the other BIG PHARMA companies show blatant disrespect for the economic well being of their U.S. consumer base. They show that they are looking at MDs as pure MARKETING AGENTS FOR THEIR OWN PROFITS (caps for emphasis only) and not PARTNERS in providing the safest and most efficacious health care for their consumers.

"I Saw What You Did, and I Know Who YOU are!"

Smoking may make you ugly, but some things make you uglier. I am now going to pull a ROST and present my latest discovery, watching those WHO WATCH YOU!!!

I think this is so fun. I can blog away with impunity about my feelings about PHARMA using my freedom of speech (at least for the time being), and Aztrazeneca can exercise their freedom to lurk.. I enjoy them lurking, because I never get attention. This Kitty is starving for attention from the PHARMA apologists.

Let me be clear, I think pharmacological synthetics ARE necessary for treatment of disease and suffering: They are critical for the advancement of any society. However, the current greed, lack of ethics and callous disregard and contempt most of the major PHARMA companies have for the consumer, is frankly, not optimum. I believe, that I, through blogging, can help to bring up issues that may not have been considered by the marketing consultants who make hundreds of thousands of dollars.

THIS IS FREE expert advice! Average Consumers are telling PHARMA marketers what is wrong, but they are not listening!!! Rather, Christine Truelove in her new Pharma Blogs: Week in Review 5/18/07 took an interesting spin on DTC PHARMA marketing:

"Even as the value of DTC advertising continues to be questioned, the news is not all bad. Ed Silverman at Pharmalot picked up a study done by Rodale, the publisher of Prevention, Men's Health, and Women's Health magazines, which says the first reaction by consumers in seeing an ad is to find out more information about the drug. This is something the pharmaceutical industry has contended for awhile. Only 8% of consumers were stimulated by an ad to ask their physicians for that medication."

My interpretation of the finding that "the first reaction by consumers in seeing an ad is to find out more information about the drug" differs from Ms. Truelove's. It is my contention that consumers only ask, because they are not told what the new "medication" does.

I believe, although I could be wrong, that DTC ads can either:
A = HAVE TO READ SIDE EFFECT PROFILE DURING THE COMMERCIAL (e.g., "A small number of people may experience .... diarrhea, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, headaches, impotence, fecal discharge, incontinence....) IN ORDER TO HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT THE PILL IS FOR (the indication)

OR

B = NOT READ THE SIDE EFFECT LIST and then THEY CAN NOT TELL YOU THE INDICATION OR PURPOSE OF THE DRUG.

Well, inquiring MINDS want to know... even I wondered, what was making that beautiful middle aged woman, jog gently down the water's edge on a beautiful beach, with a supportive, smiling man watching on... then a woman swirling her skirt in a field, then a senior citizen talking with her friends, seeming to enjoy a coffee circle.

The gap between those who ask about a drug and those who use a drug should be very wide if my hypothesis (that people are JUST curious... like kitties) is confirmed. If the PHARMA marketers are correct, then interest should be proportional to scales with a small slippage in carry through of the patients to actually fill the prescriptions.

What makes me smile, is that the PHARMA consultants (mostly ex-pharma employees) should try to think outside the box with respect to their marketing plans for the new decade. They should realize that most global citizens DO NOT think positively about pharmaceutical companies, and that they need to change their image. Pills are not like TV shows with intricate sweeps plots to tease you with, to get the numbers up. They should be used very sparingly, and only as a last resort before safe, sane and organic treatments, like behavioral activation, socialization and exercise.

VISITOR ANALYSIS

Referring Link http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scarlett spring and astrazeneca
Host Name uwal204.astrazeneca.com
IP Address 156.70.222.26
Country United States
Region Delaware
City Wilmington
ISP Astrazeneca Inc
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Date Time WebPage
18th May 2007 04:30:33 www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scarlett spring and astrazeneca
The Black Kitty - All Things Health Care Related: Peter Rost Actually Talks with Fellow WHISTLEBLOWER at AstraZenec
18th May 2007 04:30:33 www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scarlett spring and astrazeneca
The Black Kitty - All Things Health Care Related: Peter Rost Actually Talks with Fellow WHISTLEBLOWER at AstraZenec
18th May 2007 19:25:23 www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scarlet spring astrazeneca
The Black Kitty - All Things Health Care Related: Dr. Peter Rost
18th May 2007 19:25:23 www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scarlet spring astrazeneca
The Black Kitty - All Things Health Care Related: Dr. Peter Rost

SIN = MedAdNews "Pharma Blogs: Week in Review"

What I find very interesting, is that this summary IS INCORRECT. I have highlighted the parts that I believe to be in error, and CAPITALIZED MY RESPONSES (NOT SHOUTING :)):
"Pink cupcakes
On the lighter side, there has been some note made of AstraZeneca's breast cancer drug marketing initiatives centered around Mother's Day. Dr. Rost posts AstraZeneca's directive to to sales representatives . The May and Mother's Day-centered initiative promotes MUMs (Mothers United for Mammograms), which AstraZeneca's Missy Moran of the Mid-Atlantic Sales Team says offers the company an opportunity to not only support breast cancer education, but "can also be leveraged to enhance our presence in key accounts . . . Utilize this campaign to gain access and enhance selling opportunities for Arimidex, Abraxane, and Faslodex with your key accounts." The idea is for sales representatives to set up tables in waiting rooms and other areas ("chemo areas can be successful") and distribute pink flowers, information in pink Arimidex bags ("They will also be highly visible throughout the entire office"), and pink-iced cupcakes ("Refreshments and food will help attract patients to the table."). The bloggers writing about this gave the impression that they think this initiative is tacky."

DAMN RIGHT!! WE DO THINK IT is TACKY OR WE WOULD NOT HAVE SAID SO. DID YOU FORGET THAT THE MAJOR SIDE EFFECT OF CHEMO IS NAUSEA?? DID YOU FORGET THAT ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS DRINK CLEAR FLUIDS DURING CHEMO? DID YOU FORGET HOW SICKENING THE CLOYING SMELL OF REFINED SUGAR IS TO SOMEONE WHO FEELS NAUSEOUS?

They're also all men.

DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! THIS BLACK KITTY HAS HER EARS BACK AND IS SPRINGING INTO ATTACK. ALSO SEE YOUR BLOGGERS FOR MORE WOMEN, BUT LOOK AT "DEPRESSION INTROSPECTION" FOR A GREAT WOMAN'S POINT OF VIEW ON PHARMA. ALSO LOOK AT THE KAISER WHISTLE BLOWER, AND OF COURSE, YOURS TRULY!

Quite frankly, if I were a breast cancer patient and some cheerful people are handing me flowers and cupcakes on my way out of chemo, I'd be very happy about that (and having had a breast cancer scare in the past, this is not a topic far from my mind at times). I'm also enough of a cynic to understand that the flowers and cupcakes are not being given out just to make me feel happy. I realize that other people might not think the same way, though, and might ask their doctor about treatment with Arimidex even if it's not right for them."

MAYBE YOU WOULD, BUT WHEN IF I WAS LEAVING CHEMO, I BELIEVE I WOULD FIND THE DISPLAY DISTASTEFUL FOR SO MANY REASONS. IF YOU ASK, I WILL BE GLAD TO LIST THEM.

"But I don't think this initiative is truly tacky. Truly tacky is the tale that I heard once of an initiative by a sales representative from a top 10 pharmaceutical company - I am leaving out the company name and the name of the drug to protect the innocent in this admittedly anecdotal tale. If the tale is true (it was passed on to me from someone at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics), then this beats pink cupcakes all out. It seems that the rep went into the doctor's office with a tarp, a beach backdrop, and a sunlamp. She spread sand on the tarp, stripped down to a bikini, and sunbathed. The sign on the backdrop read, "[Our SSRI] is like a day at the beach." Allegedly this was a hit with the doctor, and the rep's idea, published in the department newsletter, got her a nice cash bonus that month."

THIS IS THE TYPE OF STORY THAT TEENAGERS USE WHEN THEY WANT TO JUSTIFY THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR. A SCENARIO MIGHT SOUND JUST LIKE THIS SUB PAR ARGUMENT: "MOM... PETER IS ALSO A BAD BOY, HE DID X, WHICH IS SO MUCH WORSE THAN THE Y I DID, SO PLEASE DON'T GROUND ME.. OR WHATEVER." THIS IS PURE BULLSHIT. JUST BECAUSE A POOR WOMAN WITH NO BOUNDARIES AND AN INTENSE FEAR OF FAILING AT HER HIGHLY INTELLECTUAL DRUG REP JOB, BEARS HER BOOBIES TO SELL MEDICATIONS, DOESN'T MAKE PRETENDING OT BE A PATIENT ORGANIZATION OF MOTHERS, WHEN YOU ARE REALLY A PHARMA COMPANY PROMOTING YOUR MEDICATIONS A FAIR AND ETHICAL MARKETING PRACTICE. FRANKLY IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP TO SANCTIONS.

IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE REFINED SUGAR, WHICH WOULD BE UNDESIRABLE FOOD TO PASS OUT FOR HEALTH REASONS ALONE (THINK DIABETES) OR THE FLOWERS, ALTHOUGH, ONE WOULD THINK THAT A LIVE PLANT WOULD BE MORE APPRECIATED THAN A DEAD FLOWER; RATHER IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THE TACKINESS THING ABOUT THIS MARKETING IDEA GONE WRONG, IS THE MIS-REPRESENTATION OF "MUM" AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT REALLY PHARMA, BUT ONE OF CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS SUBTLE DECEPTION IS WRONG, AND A BIG BANNER SHOULD HAVE TO FLY OVER THE GOODIE TABLE SAYING "AZ SPONSORS... THE MAKERS OF YOUR CHEMO...."

ON THE OTHER HAND, A MORE GENTLER, KINDER AZ MARKETER MIGHT DECIDE THAT A CAMPAIGN WHERE THEY DONATE 1000 TO EACH CHEMO PATIENT'S CHARITY OF CHOICE, OR A FREE MAKE-OVER, OR A FREE WIG CONSULATION, OR A FREE FOOT MASSAGE OR A FREE POPSICLE OR DESIGNER WATER OR JUICE WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER IN THE LONG RUN.

DO THE MARKETERS REALLY THINK THE CONSUMERS ARE THIS STUPID? I HAVE YET TO MEET ANYONE, OF ANY LEVEL OF EDUCATION, WHO THINKS POSITIVELY OF THE RECENT MARKETING OF THE MAJOR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. THE BLUE PILL, THE GAS, THE DEPRESSION, THE PAIN, THE GIBBERISH ADS, THE ALLERGY ADS, AND MOST OF THE DTC MARKETING IS GOING TO BACKFIRE, I PROMISE. I TALK TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, AND MOST PEOPLE IN CANADA THINK THE ADS ARE MISLEADING AND PEDANTIC, AND APPEAL TO THE MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, WHO ARE DESPARATELY LOOKING FOR HELP FOR WHAT AILS THEM. TAKING ADVANTAGE LIKE THIS... WELL... IF U ARE GONNA SIN... DO IT IN A BIG WAY...

Secret AstraZeneca Audio Tapes: Violation of Corporate Integrity Agreement

Dr. Rost is MORE than on fire, he is going to become the next Dan Rather (and much better looking too). This story belongs in the NY Times front page!

The bottom line is that legally and ethically a company needs to have a double blind placebo controlled trial that compares 2 medications directly, head to head. Not indirectly by - A is Better than B, and B is Better than C - therefore A is a better treatment than C?

This is only true if things are measured perfectly, without error, in a perfect world. ONE WOULD THINK that if we are dealing with PEOPLE'S LIVES HERE, the government would insist that all PHARMA marketing claims are rigorous, honest, crystal clear and explained at the appropriate intellectual level for all types of audiences... doctors to consumers.

The tapes are scary. Evil is so ordinary. That is what gives me chills.

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Pharma BlogoSphere: 'Round the Sphere: Rost Rocks, AZ PR Meltdown, New Name Exposed

Pharma BlogoSphere: 'Round the Sphere: Rost Rocks, AZ PR Meltdown, New Name Exposed
I agree with this posting. Peter Rost Rocks! And not only that, is leading a pack of wolves to the gates. For the first time since he started Whistleblowing, I think that he is coming into his own. I am so grateful that I can watch this unfold. Thanks Pharma BlogSphere for saying so articulately what I am thinking :)

Peter Rost Actually Talks with Fellow WHISTLEBLOWER at AstraZenec

Dr. Peter Rost reports on a short but very meaningful conversation with a whistler blower at AZ. Here is his text below. Peter Rost is a very busy man. I constantly DIGG and write about him, but on the lists he publishes of OTHER blogs that quote HIM, I AM NEVER INCLUDED. This Kitty craves attention... but alas, she is a small flea in a pack of very big alpha wolves.

My positive intention is to spread his word - minus his self promotion. I wish he would see the light of how I can help him in the future. It really doesn't matter, because Peter is the best blogger I have ever read, hands down. For that reason only, I give him the respect he deserves. But personally, I am done emailing him. Its up to you now Peter!

Interview with AstraZeneca "Group of Seven" Whistleblower

This is an interview between Question Authority and one of the AstraZeneca whistleblowers:

QA: "I appreciate the fact that you contacted me about this story . . . but seriously, why don't you want to talk to the other big media outlets? You have one of the three national television networks asking for an interview and the biggest US newspaper also trying to find you. You could have much more impact that way."

AZ: "We will seriously consider going to the media but right now I only trust you, as a fellow whistleblower."

QA: "Have you actually mailed your Open letter to the OIG, and have you signed with your real name?"

AZ: "We mailed, emailed, faxed and called in this information to OIG LAST MONTH to the OIG Hotline. No real names given. Just the report number. By Phone: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) By Fax: 1-800-223-8164 By E-Mail: HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov By Mail:Office of Inspector General Department of Health and Human Services Attn: HOTLINE 330 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20201."

QA: "Any other thoughts you have on this story?"

AZ: "Three more things:
1) An even bigger scandal would be if OIG did nothing and didn't care.
2) Why didn't Zubillaga's Boss, Scarlett Spring, National Sales Director Oncology, fire Zubillaga months ago?
3) Also, Mid-Atlantic Oncology Newsletter Editor District Sales Manager [Name redacted] has a history of producing newsletters for the South West Region."

QA: "So I guess there may be more to come?"

QA: "Hello?"

QA: "Anyone still there?"

END

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