Big pharma and its influence on medical regulators

[ChrisColumbus]

Not specifically RLS related, but I've only just come across this 18 month old investigation into the extent by which big pharma funds (and influences?) drug regulators:

doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1538

[Joolsg]

I often wonder if some doctors in the UK 'prefer' to prescribe dopamine agonists because they are 'cosy' with pharmaceutical companies. If big pharma are influencing drug regulators, that is terrifying. But totally believable.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Joolsg]

I certainly suspect that this is the case with statins. Currently reading Justin Smith's Statin Nation...

[Madlegs1]

Fascinating- and confirming what many have always surmised.

However-- if I may play devil's advocate for a second.

How many of us , if we or a loved one had an extremely serious condition and have reached the end of the road, would jump at the chance of trying a new unregulated, fastracked medication?

However, I suppose the bottom line is that the public have a right to unbiased regulated policy on drug approval , so as to be protected from commercial bias.

Thanks, Chris!👍

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Madlegs1]

Funding of course doesn't necessarily lead to influencing or expediting but I fear that there may be insufficient controls in place.

In many ways I believe that big pharma SHOULD contribute to funding regulators, but ONLY if it can be proved that they are not buying influence: we need to be confident that we have totally independent regulators

[Madlegs1 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

We need more Michael Moores!

[Jumpey]

Credible.

[Eryl]

Thankfully there's someone on our side. youtu.be/UDXOArxFAGQ?si=wIM...(Not working as expected?)

[Walmer3463]

Yes Chris, excellent article..