Whistle Blower

May 18, 2011 By 15 Comments

I constantly monitor what’s going on inside Big Pharma and in relation to Big Pharma and Government relationships. Today I picked up this bit of information that just reinforces what I already believe about them.  It’s disappointing really.

But I approach this question from a slightly different angle than most of the other commenters.  I worked in Pharma for 7 years as a sales rep calling on hospitals and integrated health systems.  I saw rampant waste in the sales & marketing channels within our health care infrastructure.

I’d like to throw out some figures to illustrate my viewpoint:

  • In 2010, 105,000 Pharma & Device US-based Reps
  • Each Rep costs their company ~$275k in benefits–salary, company car, benefits, expense account
  • This amounts to $30B+ in selling costs

Thirty billion dollars in spending costs! What’s wrong with this picture?  At some point people are going to have to get control of government and break up the connection between the FDA and Big Pharma.  We will never become a health nation until we get this done.

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What Causes AFib or Heart Palpitations?

May 18, 2011 By 24 Comments

afib inflammationWe get a lot of questions about atrial fibrillation and heart palpitations so I thought it was probably time to talk about this issue and it’s causes again.

Most of the time, the cause is inflammation.  There are two kinds of inflammation. One kind is where you sprain your ankle and it swells up from the inflammation.  The other kind of inflammation (internal) is one that you generally don’t notice until you get sick, and even then you don’t attribute the illness to inflammation.  This latter form is called internal inflammation and as far as I can tell is the leading cause of heart palpitations and a major contributor to atrial fibrillation.  More on the mechanism of afib at the end of this article.

There are tests for internal inflammation, but sadly your doctors rarely ever test for it.  The test is called a C-Reactive Protein test (CRP).  My business partner and his wife just had their CRP tests done a few days ago.  Don registered 0.8 and Bonnie registered 0.3.  For those that understand these numbers, you will know that this is a wonderful score!  These two are as healthy as can be and they are not on any medications.

When a friend of mine died of prostrate cancer in 2002, his CRP score was 60.5.  CRP absolutely is a marker, in my opinion, for many diseases.  The test is cheap ($15) and easy to do.  But you are never going to find your doctor calling for CRP scores unless you force his hand.  Why is this?

If everyone in North America had CRP scores like Don and Bonnie, then Big Pharma would be bankrupt. It’s just that simple.  There is no money in healthy people.  The money is in the sick and chronically ill.  Internal inflammation can lead to scores of diseases such as osteoporosis, lupus, IBS, cancer, meningitis, heart palpitations, atrial fibrilation, Crohn’s disease, and many more.  Take a look at Wikipedia on the subject of inflammation and you will be astounded.  With millions of people all conditioned to eat the right stuff to make them sick, big pharma has a never ending consumer farm.

In publications, you will often see the problem referred to as  “age related inflammation.”  Life Extension describes it this way:

Aging results in an increase of inflammatory cytokines (destructive cell-signaling chemicals) that contribute to the progression of many degenerative diseases (Van der Meide et al. 1996; Licinio et al. 1999). Rheumatoid arthritis is a classic autoimmune disorder in which excess levels of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 1b [IL-1(b)], and/or interleukin-8 (IL-8) are known to cause or contribute to the inflammatory syndrome (Deon et al. 2001).

Chronic inflammation is also involved in diseases as diverse as atherosclerosis, cancer, heart valve dysfunction, obesity, diabetes, congestive heart failure, digestive system diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease (Brouqui et al. 1994; Devaux et al. 1997; De Keyser et al. 1998). In aged people with multiple degenerative diseases, the inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein, is often sharply elevated, indicating the presence of an underlying inflammatory disorder (Invitti 2002; Lee et al. 2002; Santoro et al. 2002; Sitzer et al. 2002). When a cytokine blood profile is conducted on people in a weakened condition, an excess level of one or more of the inflammatory cytokines, e.g., TNF-a, IL-6, IL-1(b), or IL-8, is usually found (Santoro et al. 2002). (See the Suggested Reading reference list for additional citations.)

No matter what they say, inflammation is, however, it is NOT age related. It’s just that it takes a long time to catch up to you.  For example, I was driving in to work this morning and I saw a young male construction worker walking from the donut shop toward his work site.  He had a cigarette and donut in one hand… and a can of Red Bull in the other hand.  He won’t feel bad today or tonight or even next week.  But if this lifestyle continues, the acidic drinks (pH 2.5), along with the refined sugar from things like donuts, will create inflammation inside his body.  By the time this poor guys is 40, he will likely have issues such as IBS, heartburn, GERD, melanoma, swollen prostrate, arthritic joints or a number of other possibilities.  He might even be on three or four medications.  This is part of the master plan.  As a side note – the average American senior has 30 prescriptions per year!  There was $18 billion spent on cholesterol lowering drugs alone last year.  “Age related inflammation”, therefore, is the perfect storm for pharmaceutical companies.  It gives them the opportunity to develop dozens of drugs aimed at addressing individual health issues.

Atrial Fibrillation and Palpitations

Google alerts me anytime anyone on the planet talks about afib or palpitations.  I get live – up to the minute – reports anytime anything is published about this subject.  I can tell you that many thousands of people are looking for solutions.

For the most part, these folks are in the age range of 25 to 50.  When I talk to any of them, I hear the same story.  The doctors have administered every test in the book and declared that the patient is otherwise healthy.  The doctor most often prescribes some sort of beta blocker and advises the patient to stay off caffeine and other stimulants.  As far as I am concerned, this advice borders on negligence.  A CRP test in any of these folks would almost certainly expose elevated CRP scores.

Having said this, we are not doctors.   We can only speak to our own conditions.  I suffered palpitations and atrial fibrillation for a year.  I sometimes went into the emergency room 3 times in one week!  I was given propafenone to control my heart rhythm, but it made me feel terrible!  I had a friend who is an NHL hockey player, and another friend who is an UFC Fighting champ who suffered similarly.  When I cracked the code after 7 years of study, I shared my findings with these two and they experienced the same benefits that I did.  I have been palpitation free for at least two years now.  I’ve never felt better.  At 56 years old, I am not on any medications at all.   And my new career is to become a “mouth piece” for high alkaline living.

Bell Well….

Interesting Related Resources:
Are Your Grounded?

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Filed Under: Big Pharma, Health & Wellness, News Tagged With: , , ,

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Continue to Rise

May 15, 2011 By 18 Comments

Dr. Mercola – May 15, 2011

Most soybean, corn, cotton and canola crops in the U.S. are genetically altered. Some experts argue that these crops could pose serious health and environmental risks, but the scientific picture is currently incomplete — deliberately so.

Agricultural corporations such as Monsanto and Syngenta have restricted independent research on the crops. They have refused to provide independent scientists with seeds, or else have set restrictive conditions that severely limit research.  This is legal because under U.S. law, genetically engineered crops are patentable.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

“Agricultural companies defend their stonewalling by saying that unrestricted research could make them vulnerable to lawsuits if an experiment somehow leads to harm, or that it could give competitors unfair insight into their products. But it’s likely that the companies fear something else as well: An experiment could reveal that a genetically engineered product is hazardous or doesn’t perform as promised.”

Even if you don’t want to eat genetically engineered foods, you most likely already are doing so.  Corn and soy are two of the most common food ingredients, especially in processed foods, and over 90 percent of both these crops in the US are now from GM seeds.

Organic food companies and consumer groups are stepping up their efforts to get the government to exercise more oversight of engineered foods. Critics of current policy argue that the genetically modified (GM) seeds are often contaminating the nearby non-GM crops.

ABC News reports:

“The U.S. government has insisted there’s not enough difference between the genetically modified seeds its agencies have approved and natural seeds to cause concern. But Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, more so than his predecessors in previous administrations, has acknowledged the debate over the issue and a growing chorus of consumers concerned about what they are eating.”

Filed Under: Big Pharma, News Tagged With: , , ,

$22 Billion Spent On Cancer Drugs Annually – Don’t Count On A Cure!

May 12, 2011 By 24 Comments

This “war on cancer” is making me sick!  But what I am really sick of is reading is stories like the one in Bloomberg Business Week today.  According to Bloomberg;

The bigger payday will come from big-ticket drugs that treat the millions who suffer from more common—and lucrative—forms of cancer, such as those affecting the lungs, breasts, or prostate. In January, Epizyme, a company co-founded by Nobel laureate H. Robert Horvitz, agreed to a deal worth up to $650 million with GlaxoSmithKline to search for epigenetics drugs for cancer. Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, and at least four venture-backed startups are also racing to devise cell-reprogramming drugs for more prevalent tumors. “Every major company I know of has a program” in epigenetics, says Jean-Pierre Issa, an oncologist at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Cancer drugs are the world’s top sellling drug category with over $22 billion is US sales alone!  That figure is up from $15.8 billion in 2006.  Imagine what the bill is going to be once the effects of Fukushima begin to manifest!  What really pisses me off is that scientists don’t want to focus on how to NOT GET cancer in the first place.  No way!  They would never opt for a step like that because it would cost them billions of dollars.  They want you to get cancer, and they want to sell you the antidote!  Big Pharma is betting the farm on this working.

Much of big pharma’s efforts are going into manipulating specific genes with nano-technology.  That so wrong headed!  As the cancer rate accelerates in the coming years, you are going to have to make some hard decisions.  Studies show that over 90% on oncologists would refuse chemo therapy if they personally had cancer.  What does that tell you?

With what I have seen in relation to alkalinity and cancer, powerful natural antioxidants and inflammation, hemp oil, and other traditional wellness support mechanisms, I am not taking any chances with these “johnny-come-lately” alternative medical practitioners.  You call them doctors.  I call them licensed drug dealers.  They are the true “alternative medical practitioners” since they have only been around for 120 years, whereas my choice for medical support has been here for over 4,000 years.

Do not confuse my disdain for doctors to include all doctors.  I like the bone menders, cardiologists and other specialists, along with the organ transplant folks.  They are the “mechanics” of the health care business.  The others are nothing more than drug dealers in lab coats.

What is really needed is to fire everyone at the FDA and then recreate that organisation properly.  Fire all of the “Czars” appointed by Obama and start again.  But most of all, nationalize big pharma.  Re-write their mandate to ensure their focus is on disease prevention.

Finally, no one escapes blame today.  If you are going to keep smoking, drinking and eating “stupid food”, then take your lumps!  Don’t try to sue tobacco companies because you claim their product harmed you.  You  have to be a moron not to know right from wrong.  Every human on the planet knows the difference. Take some responsibility and balance your dietary and lifestyle habits…or enjoy the ride and whatever pain it provides.

 

Filed Under: Big Pharma, Cancer, Health & Wellness, Politics Tagged With: , , ,

You Are Not Alone – If You Think Corporate Health Care Is a Scam!

May 2, 2011 By 16 Comments

When I read this kind of material, my blood pressure boils!  Hey… the whole system sucks from the bottom up.  There is just no way you and I can win this game unless we are determined to work very hard at it.  Today, Google reported this:

LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) – GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) said on Thursday it paid $85.3 million to U.S. doctors and researchers in 2010 for a variety of services, including speaking fees, expert advice and work on clinical trials of its medicines.

The disclosure is the latest example of Big Pharma bowing to pressure for greater transparency, following concerns in the United States about commercial links between industry and healthcare professionals.

GSK has previously given details on payments to speakers, but not clinical trials.

In 2010, a total of 5,331 U.S. healthcare professionals were paid $56.8 million for speaking on behalf of GSK or giving it advice — a modest pro rata decline on the $51 million paid in the last nine months of 2009. GSK only started detailing such payments from the second quarter of 2009.

Payments to U.S. doctors for clinical trials amounted to $28.5 million last year.

Speaking engagements, in which doctors are paid by drugmakers to discuss their medicines with groups of other physicians, have been among the most controversial industry marketing practices.

By law, companies are forbidden to promote their drugs for uses not cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But some companies allegedly have greatly boosted prescriptions for their drugs by allowing or encouraging paid speakers to discuss such “off-label” use of their products. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Will Waterman)

If they paid $56 million to 5,331 people to promote their products, then I am left wondering how much they are paying to scientists, doctors, university professors and other “so called” experts to trash-talk fast growing and effective natural products?  We all know that old patents are running out.  There is only a limited number of chemical compounds a handy little science buff can manipulate.  As I see it, Big Pharma has NO CHOICE but to expand into the nutraceutical market.  I already know that they are trying to patent the active ingredient in Wild Oil of Oregano (carvacrol).  Just go to the US patent office online and do some searching.  You’ll be blown away by what they are trying to patent.

In both the US and Canada, they have successfully lobbied politicians to enact Big-Pharma-friendly legislation that holds down natural products while providing a substantive market advantage to Big Pharma.  All this is going to do is force good products underground.  It means that in Canada, for example, it is now illegal to sell dried parsley in a health food store because there are no clinical trials to prove its efficacy.  At the same time, if you try to run a clinical trial to prove its efficacy, you will find enough booby-traps along the way to prevent you from doing it.  In addition, if you think you might grow parsley in your back yard for yourself and your small group of friends,  then think again because the Canadian Food Inspection agency holds draconian powers to raid your home and seize pretty much anything they want.

The real question becomes, “what is your breaking point?” How long will you endure this crap?  what finally has to happen to get you off your sofa and out marching?

Filed Under: Big Pharma, News Tagged With: ,

Enbrel Warning!

May 1, 2011 By 18 Comments

I tried to watch a movie tonight.  Interestingly, about 90% of the ads were for one pharmaceutical drug or another.  What the hell has the world come to when people fall for this crap?  I decided I would do a little research and find the drug warning for these products and start running them here on this blog.  Maybe I’ll re-post a few a week.  Lets see how it goes.

To start off, here is what I found out about Enbrel on Prescription Drug TV Ads.

BRIEF:
Serious infections, fatal blood disorders, cancer

OFFICIAL:
“Important Product Information”
Since the product was first introduced, the following have been reported in patients using ENBREL:

  • Serious Infections
  • Many occurred in people prone to infection, such as those with advanced or poorly controlled diabetes
  • Some serious infections were fatal
  • Rare cases of tuberculosis
  • What to do/Not do
  • Do not start ENBREL if you have an infection or are allergic to ENBREL or its components
  • Tell your doctor if you are prone to infection
  • Stop ENBREL if a serious infection occurs
  • Contact your doctor if you have questions about ENBREL or develop an infection
  • Tell your doctor if you have ever been treated for heart failure
  • Serious nervous system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes.
  • Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of these disorders or if you develop them after starting ENBREL.
  • Rare reports of serious blood disorders (some fatal).
  • Contact your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms such as persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness
  • In medical studies of all TNF inhibitors, a higher rate of lymphoma (a type of cancer) was seen compared to the general population, however, the risk of lymphoma may be up to several-fold higher in RA and psoriasis patients.
  • The role of TNF inhibitors in the development of lymphoma is unknown.
  • The incidence of other cancers has not increased with exposure to ENBREL and is similar to the expected rate.
  • ENBREL can also cause injection site reactions.
  • In a medical study of patients with JRA, infections, headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea occurred more frequently than in adults.
  • The kinds of infections reported were generally mild and similar to those usually seen in children
  • Other serious adverse reactions were reported rarely, including serious infections (2%) and depression/personality disorder (1%). . . “

Seriously folks.  Have we fallen this far that we have to rely on this kind of pure trash?  Ask your doctor if getting off your ass is right for you!

[NOTE] I’m going to follow up on a practice that was reported to me. It is quite disturbing.  Essentially it is this:

Drug Companies are suspected of Hiding Facts With Graphics

Sometimes, the above “OFFICIAL” safety information, is presented as a GRAPHIC on the website, if presented at all. This is done so that the information CAN NOT be read, indexed or found on the internet, using a search engine. There is NO OTHER reason to present this information in graphic format. This is done solely to hide the information, so that Google, Yahoo and MSN can’t read it.

Filed Under: Big Pharma, Politics Tagged With: , , , ,

60 Lab Studies Now Confirm Cancer Link to a Vaccine You Probably Had as a Child

February 18, 2011 By 20 Comments

vaccine linked to cancerDr. Maurice Hilleman made astounding revelations in an interview that was cut from The Health Century — the admission that Merck drug company vaccines had been injecting dangerous viruses into people worldwide.

Bear in mind that Dr. Hilleman was the developer of Merck’s vaccine program. He developed over three dozen vaccines, more than any other scientist in history. He was a member of the U.S. National Academy of Science, the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He received a special lifetime achievement award from the World Health Organization. Hilleman was one of the early vaccine pioneers to warn about the possibility that simian viruses might contaminate vaccines.

Filed Under: Big Pharma, Cancer, Health & Wellness, News

The Grand Illusion

January 10, 2011 By 2 Comments

There should be no illusions held that Big Pharma corruption doesn’t cross all political lines. Believe it or not, the Republicans are now considering putting a Pfizer lobbyist, Maria Cino, into the top position at the Republican National Committee (RNC).  Cino was a strong supporter of Obama’s health care reform and yet is a favorite pick of former Vice President Dick Cheney. She’s also been helped by House Speaker John Boehner. GOP strategist Mary Matalin even hosted a fundraiser for her.

Cino was active in the Bush Administration, which was deeply corrupted by Big Pharma’s profit interests. It was the Bush Administration that structured a deal with Big Pharma to actually remove the ability of the federal government to negotiate bulk price discounts with the drug companies. Cino lobbied for Pfizer, so there shouldn’t be any wonder why our drug prices are so high.  Any you keep electing these folks!

Maybe running for office should be a “sentence?”  You get sentenced to one term.  If you do well, we will let you out.  If you let the old boy’s network purchase your soul, you have your power stripped, and are made to remain in office as an internee.

Pfizer, for the record, pushed the hardest for passage of Obamacare reforms. As the Wall Street Journal reports, Pfizer CEO Jeffrey Kindler was keen to see Obamacare become law:

“In 2009 Pfizer became the fourth largest federal lobbyist, spending nearly $25 million. The strategy: The industry would pledge $80 billion to reform. In return it would get greater volume and a requirement that people buy brand-name drugs. Democrats would also fight against drug re-importation and forgo price controls. No one pushed harder than Mr. Kindler. The CEO made no fewer than five trips to the White House last year. He was the man prodding Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America head Billy Tauzin every step. He wrote an op-ed with the SEIU’s Mr. Stern demanding reform. He pressed the industry’s $150 million ad campaign promoting ObamaCare, rolled out with liberal activist groups.” (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100…)

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Filed Under: Big Pharma, News, Politics
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