SELLING SICKNESS: THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND DISEASE BRANDING | Big Pharma Documentary

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A newly discovered illness, Monday morning dysphoric trouble (MMDT), affects one in three adults and can significantly impact one's life. Pharmaceutical companies manipulate disease definitions and medications for profit, leading to ethical concerns and potential risks for patients.

Insights

  • MMDT, a newly discovered illness, impacts one in three adults, causing irritability, social withdrawal, and headaches, significantly affecting individuals' lives.
  • Pharmaceutical companies engage in "illness shaping," creating fictitious illnesses like metabolic syndrome, pushing medications with severe side effects such as Accomplia, raising ethical concerns about their practices and manipulation of research.

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Recent questions

  • What is metabolic syndrome?

    Metabolic syndrome is a serious condition affecting one in four individuals, characterized by abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol, posing a risk of cardiovascular accidents.

  • What are the side effects of Accomplia?

    Accomplia, a drug marketed as a solution for metabolic syndrome, causes severe side effects, including psychiatric issues and suicides, despite being approved for sale by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and later banned due to its dangers.

  • How do pharmaceutical companies manipulate diseases?

    Pharmaceutical companies manipulate disease definitions to expand their markets, as seen with diabetes and cholesterol thresholds, creating fictitious illnesses and medications to increase sales, a practice known as "illness shaping."

  • What is osteoporosis disease mongering?

    Osteoporosis is portrayed as a silent killer to drive drug sales, sponsored by pharmaceutical companies like Amgen, blurring lines between education and promotion, leading to overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments based on a bone density standard of a 30-year-old woman.

  • What are the ethical concerns regarding pharmaceutical funding?

    Dr. Duprey and Dr. Hansel received funding from Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company, for their research on abdominal obesity, raising ethical concerns about accepting money from pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Hansel's ties to Sanofi were questioned when he recommended a medication without disclosing his connections, leading to suspicions of manipulation in the medical field.

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Summary

00:00

"Pharmaceutical Deception: Metabolic Syndrome and Accomplia"

  • Monday morning dysphoric trouble (MMDT) is a newly discovered illness characterized by irritability, feeling run down, social withdrawal, and headaches.
  • MMDT affects one in three adults and can significantly impact one's life.
  • Pharmaceutical companies create fictitious illnesses and medications to increase sales, a practice known as "illness shaping."
  • Abdominal obesity, also called metabolic syndrome, is a serious condition affecting one in four individuals.
  • Metabolic syndrome is associated with being overweight, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol, posing a risk of cardiovascular accidents.
  • Dr. Boris Hansel, an endocrinologist, emphasizes the importance of physical exercise, a balanced diet, and medication like Accomplia to combat metabolic syndrome.
  • Accomplia, a drug by Sanofi, is marketed as a solution for metabolic syndrome but causes severe side effects, including psychiatric issues and suicides.
  • Despite warnings and evidence of harmful side effects, Accomplia was approved for sale by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and later banned due to its dangers.
  • Dr. Duprey, who discovered abdominal obesity, received $15 million from Sanofi to establish a research foundation, raising ethical concerns about accepting money from pharmaceutical companies.
  • Dr. Duprey expresses regret for not addressing the risks of depression associated with Accomplia during clinical trials and for his involvement with the pharmaceutical company.

21:12

Pharmaceutical Influence in Medical Research and Treatment

  • Dr. Hansel, an expert on abdominal obesity, received funding from Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company, for his research institute.
  • Dr. Hansel recommended a medication in a newspaper without disclosing his ties to Sanofi, raising questions about his independence.
  • Sanofi funded Dr. Hansel's book on abdominal obesity, but did not distribute the copies to avoid direct association.
  • Sanofi supported Dr. Hansel's work with awards, research funding, and sponsorship, leading to suspicions of manipulation.
  • Pharmaceutical companies manipulate disease definitions to expand their markets, as seen with diabetes and cholesterol thresholds.
  • Osteoporosis awareness campaigns are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies like Amgen, blurring lines between education and promotion.
  • Osteoporosis is portrayed as a silent killer, creating fear to drive drug sales, a practice known as disease mongering.
  • The definition of osteoporosis was based on bone density of a 30-year-old woman, leading to overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments.
  • Shirley Bowles suffered severe side effects from Fosamax, an osteoporosis drug, leading to legal action against Merck for negligence.
  • Merck allegedly avoided studying the link between Fosamax and jaw necrosis, raising concerns about their ethical practices and manipulation of research.

41:31

"Shirley Bowles' Fosamax Lawsuit and Death"

  • Shirley Bowles was fined 1.5 million dollars in damages for an illness she contracted while treating a non-existent illness.
  • Shirley Bowles died on September 4, 2011, due to complications of necrosis of the jaw.
  • Merck insists its drug is effective, reducing the risk of fractures by 50%.
  • Afsaps confirmed Merck's claim of a 51% reduction in the risk of a broken hip, based on Merck's own laboratory studies.
  • FDA's report revealed that the natural risk of fractures is minimal, with Fosamax preventing fractures in only 1 out of 2 people with osteoporosis.
  • Fosamax oversold its benefits, claiming a 50% reduction in fracture risk when the actual risk was very small.
  • There are 1,700 lawsuits against Merck in the US for necrosis of the jaw, with the risk being 1 in 23, much higher than Merck's official figures.
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