The Truth About the Drug Companies

During her 20-year tenure at The New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Marcia Angell witnessed the appalling spectacle of the pharmaceutical industry's influence on medical research, education, and practice. In her book, The Truth About the Drug Companies, she exposes the shocking reality of an industry that has lost sight of its original mission. Instead, the industry has become more focused on profits by funneling resources into the marketing of products of dubious benefit.Dr. Angell analyzes the industry with a critical eye and brings forward a compelling argument that high drug prices are not necessary to fund research and development. She lays out how drug companies routinely rely on publicly funded institutions for their basic research, rig clinical trials to present biased results, and use their wealth and power to manipulate Congress and the FDA.This book takes a deep dive into highly successful drugs like AZT, the first drug to treat HIV/AIDS, Taxol, the best-selling cancer drug in the world, and the blockbuster allergy drug Claritin. This analysis demonstrates how these drugs are brought to market. The book reveals that drug companies also flood the market with copycat drugs that cost more than their equivalents but are no more effective.Dr. Angell argues for substantial reform that includes reinstating impartiality in clinical research and severing the ties between drug companies and medical education. This book provides valuable insight that is essential for individuals, policymakers, and healthcare providers.In summary, The Truth About the Drug Companies is a bold, hard-hitting book that brings to light the alarming reality of the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Angell's analysis is sharp and concise, and her argument for necessary reform is compelling. This book is a critical read for anyone interested in medicine, healthcare, and ethics.