Pharma Blog Watch

Is Drug Spending Really a Huge Problem? (DrugWonks.com)
Citing a recent Associated Press article, blogger Robert Goldberg takes issue with what he views as the all-too-common journalistic practice of decrying the supposedly "problematic" rise in drug spending.

Should GSK's Advair Be Pulled From the Market? (Drug Injury Watch)
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this month concludes that GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) asthma drug Advair could be more dangerous than previously thought — according to the study, the drug could significantly increase the risk of serious side effects, including death, and should potentially be removed from the market. Blogger Tom Lamb discusses the details of the study and the problems faced by GSK in the wake of these new developments.

The Downside of Licensing Pharma Sales Reps (Pharma Marketing Blog)
An article in last week's Boston Globe notes than an amendment to the proposed Massachusetts State Budget could make the state the first in the nation to license pharmaceutical sales reps and prohibit them from supplying entertainment, gifts and other amenities to doctors, healthcare facilities or public officials. In his entry, blogger John Mack questions if licensing these representatives is actually a wise decision.