February 16, 2008
A Drug Company Dream Come True
If the FDA is allowed to publish new guidelines for the marketing of off-label drug use, it would be a drug company's dream come true. Presently, doctors may determine the proper method of prescribing a drug for off label use. However, the pharmaceutical company may not market or promote in any fashion that off-label use. However, the FDA wants to give the drug companies some room to do just that. Luckily, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) doesn't think that's such a good idea. Drugs can be dangerous enough without allowing the greedy, hyped-up marketing machine of big-pharma in on the act. Waxman warned the FDA that such approval would "allow drug and device companies to short-circuit FDA review and approval by sponsoring drug trials that are carefully constructed to deliver positive results and then using the results to influence prescribing patterns." This is a very bad idea. If approved, consumer safety will be at an even greater risk.
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