Healthy Skepticism Library item: 17101

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Spielmans GI, Parry PI
From Evidence-based Medicine to Marketing-based Medicine: Evidence from Internal Industry Documents
Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 2010 Jan 21;
http://www.springerlink.com/content/b674622731k4850q/

Abstract:

While much excitement has been generated surrounding evidence-based medicine, internal documents from the pharmaceutical industry suggest that the publicly available evidence base may not accurately represent the underlying data regarding its products. The industry and its associated medical communication firms state that publications in the medical literature primarily serve marketing interests. Suppression and spinning of negative data and ghostwriting have emerged as tools to help manage medical journal publications to best suit product sales, while disease mongering and market segmentation of physicians are also used to efficiently maximize profits. We propose that while evidence-based medicine is a noble ideal, marketing-based medicine is the current reality.

Keywords:
Evidence-based medicine - Marketing - Marketing-based medicine - Pharmaceutical industry - Olanzapine - Quetiapine