Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6961

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

Bruera E, Ripamonti C, Beattie-Palmer L.
Use of trade names of drugs in abstracts from pain congresses.
N Engl J Med 2000 Sep 14; 343:(11):818

Abstract:

Trends in the use of trade names in presentations as a way of promoting a drug were analysed. Published abstracts of clinical studies of opioid analgesics presented at World Congresses of the International Association for the Study of Pain in 1993, 1996 and 1999 were reviewed according to the type of authors’ affiliation. The proportion of abstracts containing trade names increased significantly from 19% in 1993 to 36% in 1999, an increase of 89%. Authors sponsored by pharmaceutical companies used trade names in 64% of abstracts while authors with no company affiliation used them in 15%. 58% of trade names used were in studies of more expensive slow-acting opioids as opposed to 10% for other opioids. It is suggested that the use of trade names not be allowed in the title or text of abstracts, and that there should be disclosure of pharmaceutical company affiliation or sponsorship in all abstracts.

Keywords:
*letter to the editor/United States/Italy/ Abstracting and Indexing Advertising Analgesics*/therapeutic use Congresses Drug Industry* Humans Pain/drug therapy* Patents*/statistics & numerical data