Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3139

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

Brooks PM, Birkett D.
Release of new drugs. The lessons of benoxaprofen
Med J Aust. 1983 Mar 19; 1:(6):251-2

Abstract:

The drug benoxaprofen was withdrawn from market because of reports in the United Kingdom linking it to 61 cases in which it was suspected of having contributed to the death of a patient. A large number of patients were exposed to this drug in a short time after it was marketed. This probably happened for a number of reasons: promotion through press releases and aggressive promotion to doctors who are often not well-equipped to evaluate the information provided. The authors urge the pharmaceutical industry and the media to respect the principle that prescription medications should only be promoted to the medical and paramedical professions.

Keywords:
*analysis/United Kingdom/benoxaprofen/press conferences and releases/direct-to-consumer advertising/doctors/quality of prescribing/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: MARKET SHARE/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING Advertising Drug Evaluation/standards* Humans Propionates/adverse effects* Propionic Acids/adverse effects*