The Big Fix
Author: Katherine Greider
As the pharmaceutical industry invests more and more in the development of new drugs, true breakthroughs are few and far between. Into the breach comes a panoply of product-line extensions and me-too drugs aimed at grabbing market share. The industry plows its high profits back into research, but invests an equal or greater sum in flogging its products in every imaginable venue. Research studies are designed to support marketing claims. Many doctors all over the country get their first information about new drugs from a salesperson. And, increasingly, prescription drugs are pitched to consumers on TV and the internet with images of hope, terror, or chic. Evidence-based practice guidelines, which endeavor to get the right medicines to those who will benefit most, can't be heard over the din.
Having created an unprecedented number of "megabrands"—blockbuster drugs with huge sales—and undergone an extraordinary wave of consolidation, some drug companies now find themselves in a precarious position. Patents are expiring on flagship products. In order to sustain the growth Wall Street has come to expect, these companies must produce billions of dollars worth of new revenue—fast. But can Americans continue to bankroll Operation Grow Big Pharma? Must we swallow the bad with the good?
Table of Contents:
| Introduction | |
| 1 | The Spend Trend | 1 |
| 2 | Patent Shenanigans | 27 |
| 3 | You Say Profits, They Say R&D | 43 |
| 4 | Big Pharma's Winning Pitch | 63 |
| 5 | Getting to You | 87 |
| 6 | Drugs R Us | 107 |
| 7 | Nothin's Gonna Change My World | 143 |
| 8 | The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg | 153 |
| Conclusion | 169 |
| Sources and Acknowledgments | 175 |
| Index | 177 |
Book review: Ripe for Dessert or Brined Cheeses
Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine
Author: Andrew Baum
Health psychology is a rapidly expanding discipline combining psychology and clinical medicine. This important text collates international and interdisciplinary expertise to form a unique encyclopedic handbook to this field that will be valuable to medical practitioners as well as psychologists. To facilitate easy reference, the handbook's chapters are alphabetically organized with extensive crossreferencing. The first of three sections introduces the nonspecialist reader to broad areas of psychology relevant to the practice of medicine. The second and third sections examine behavioral factors in relation to practice by citing specific medical conditions. This book will prove to be an invaluable resource to all those with an interest in the psychological aspects of health care.
Wolfgang Lutz
The book gives an overview of important areas of psychology relevant to medicine. It covers the theoretical foundations and empirical findings of psychological effects of illness, psychological influences on health and illness, assessment, intervention, and treatments as well as preventive measures relevant to particular medical conditions. The book is intended to be a comprehensive handbook and is expected to be a reference text. Readers can seek out particular chapters for specific purposes. Therefore the book meets the needs of medical practitioners dealing with health psychology. It is specifically useful for those who want a short introduction and overview of a specific topic in health psychology. The references allow for a further exploration of the field. The book is written for medical practitioners and health professionals as well as undergraduates in psychology, medicine, or other health related courses. The chapters are written by credible authorities in the specific fields. The quality and pertinence of the whole book as well as the illustrations and tables are clear and informative. The index helps to quickly identify important topics. The small typeface is somewhat problematic. In general, this is a useful handbook of health psychology, a rapidly expanding discipline. The coverage is broad with good referencing. The chapters, written by experts in the field, give a short, informative overview to the particular topic. The author and subject index is excellent. The book can be recommended to libraries as well as individuals.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer: Wolfgang Lutz, Drphil,DiplPsyc (Northwestern University)
Description: The book gives an overview of important areas of psychology relevant to medicine. It covers the theoretical foundations and empirical findings of psychological effects of illness, psychological influences on health and illness, assessment, intervention, and treatments as well as preventive measures relevant to particular medical conditions.
Purpose: The book is intended to be a comprehensive handbook and is expected to be a reference text. Readers can seek out particular chapters for specific purposes. Therefore the book meets the needs of medical practitioners dealing with health psychology. It is specifically useful for those who want a short introduction and overview of a specific topic in health psychology. The references allow for a further exploration of the field.
Audience: The book is written for medical practitioners and health professionals as well as undergraduates in psychology, medicine, or other health related courses. The chapters are written by credible authorities in the specific fields.
Features: The quality and pertinence of the whole book as well as the illustrations and tables are clear and informative. The index helps to quickly identify important topics. The small typeface is somewhat problematic.
Assessment: In general, this is a useful handbook of health psychology, a rapidly expanding discipline. The coverage is broad with good referencing. The chapters, written by experts in the field, give a short, informative overview to the particular topic. The author and subject index is excellent. The book can be recommended to libraries as well as individuals.
Rating
3 Stars from Doody
