Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. We apologize for the late start today, but we are wrapping up yet another road trip and encountered aggravating traffic before we could attempt our usual morning routine. Nonetheless, we are now in gear — thanks, in part, to a pumpkin latte. And so, here are some items of interest. We hope you have a smashing day and please do drop us a line when you run across something fascinating …
Patient advocacy groups have been largely silent in the public debate over pricing, but critics say that by avoiding the debate over cost, they are failing in their patient-advocacy duties, the New York Times reports. The reason for their absence is not surprising: Many of the groups receive millions of dollars a year in donations from companies behind the drugs used by their members. When they prod drug makers, it is generally for better — not cheaper — treatments.
More than half of FDA staffers who reviewed hematology-oncology drugs between 2001 and 2010 later worked for drug makers, raising revolving-door concerns, STAT writes, citing a study in the BMJ. “If you know a major post-employment opportunity is on the other side of the table, you give them the benefit of the doubt,” says study coauthor Vinay Prasad, an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University.
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‘Pumpkin latte’ and ‘smashing – quite a metaphor to start the day, Mr. Ed! Excelsior!