Drug Industry to Announce Revised Code on Marketing

Where’s my Viagra clock or my Cialis pen?   All those items are earmarked to be banned from pharma marketing under a voluntary guideline.  The biggest item to be missed will be the pens!  The announcement is to be made on Thursday, but does not appear to apply to medical device manufacturers or biotech companies.  The last revised code was in 2002, so after the announcement is made we will all know more.  BD

The industry’s Code on Interactions with Health Care Professionals will ask the chief executives of large drug makers to certify in writing that “they have policies and procedures in place to foster compliance with the code.” The code was written by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the industry’s trade association.

But the code provides no definite limits on the millions of dollars spent on speaking and consulting arrangements that drug makers have forged with tens of thousands of doctors. Nor does it ban the routine provision of office breakfasts and lunches, or the occasional invitation to educational dinners at fancy restaurants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/business/10code.html?partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss