Health

WHO's Money?

by Bob Burton — February 21, 2007 - 3:06pm

The British Medical Journal reports that the director of the World Health Organization's (WHO's) department of mental health and substance abuse, Benedetto Saraceno, proposed in an e-mail that the European Parkinson's Disease Association accept a $10,000 grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and pass it on to the UN agency. WHO has a policy that it doesn't accept contributions from drug companies.

Main Source: 
British Medical Journal (sub req'd), February 17, 2007

Coke Cans Weber Shandwick, Cries over Spilt Milk

by Bob Burton — February 20, 2007 - 6:19am

Source: MilkPEP

The Coca-Cola Company has terminated a 15-year long working relationship with the global PR firm Weber Shandwick.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), February 14, 2007

U.S. Agency Gives Vinyl Industry a Pass on Lunch Box Lead Content

by Jonathan Rosenblum — February 19, 2007 - 1:55pm

Kids' vinyl lunch boxes often contain dangerous levels of lead, but government regulators have released to the public only the test results most favorable to industry, according to documents the Associated Press obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 20 percent of boxes tested in 2005 contained unsafe amounts of lead--and several contained more than 10 times the safety level.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, February 18, 2007

Docs, Foundations Prescribe End to Pharma Marketing Payoffs

by Jonathan Rosenblum — February 19, 2007 - 12:33pm

A coalition of academics, advocates and foundations has called for strict limits on conflict-ridden, "direct-to-physician" marketing campaigns by pharmaceutical companies. A typical campaign provides free samples to doctors, accompanied by free lunches for office staff and doctors, while some also sponsor speaker's bureaus and provide gifts and junkets.

Main Source: 
The New York Times, February 12, 2007

Secrecy's Side Effects

by Bob Burton — February 17, 2007 - 4:24am

Richard Zitrin, a San Francisco-based lawyer who teaches at the University of California, warns that the willingness of lawyers to reach secret out-of-court agreements with drug companies can have dangerous consequences for patients.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2007

A Camel in a Skirt Still a Femme Fatale

by Anne Landman — February 16, 2007 - 2:36pm

R.J. Reynolds caused a stir recently by unveiling new female-targeted Camel cigarettes, "Camel No. 9." Camel cigarettes have for years been targeted at the "virile segment" -- male smokers whom RJR thinks respond to ads that feature pictures of macho men climbing mountains, fording rivers and such. RJR's targeting of women is not new, however.

Main Source: 
New York Times, February 15, 2007

Drug Company Funds Direct-To-Consumer Movie

by Diane Farsetta — February 16, 2007 - 1:58pm

Johnson & Johnson's biopharmaceutical unit, Centocor, "has developed a documentary film to serve as the centerpiece of a national campaign," reports O'Dwyer's. The movie, "Innerstate," follows "three patients living with chronic diseases like Crohn's disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis -- ailments for which Centocor markets treatments.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), February 15, 2007

President Calls on America to "Cope" With Child Obesity

by Jonathan Rosenblum — February 2, 2007 - 9:51am

President Bush described child obesity as "a costly problem for the country" and called for strategies to "help folks...cope with the issue" as he met with executives from McDonald's, Kraft, PepsiCo and other companies that market food products to children.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, February 2, 2007
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