Michael J. Fox To BIO: You Can Do Better
2 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // May 7th, 2007 // 2:50 pm
The actor, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and heads a research foundation devoted to the disease, was a featured keynote speaker at BIO today and he didn’t waste the opportunity to give the industry a shove.
As he gripped the podium or kept a hand in his pocket to mask the symptoms, he bemoaned the impression that industry isn’t much interested in high-risk studies that may generate ideas needed to attack 20,000 diseases for which no cure is available. Instead, he chastised companies for being more interested in repackaging old ideas for profit.
“Levodopa is the gold-standard treatment for Parkinson’s…But it’s a little frustrating that the best drug we’ve got is one that’s been around for 40 years. 40 years!” Fox said.
“But, hey, credit where credit is due. I couldn’t be happier about the recent advances,” he continued. “What comes to mind is antidepressants for dogs, which makes it a little easier for me, because my dog is feeling better.”
That line didn’t garner much applause.
[tags]BIO, Michael J. Fox[/tags]
Melody
Good for Michael–keep the attention focused. But, an idea he hasn’t embraced, and which I’ve promoted to other charitable organizations is the need to BAND TOGETHER. Instead of relying on BigPharma–and their fiduciary responsibility to shareholders–activist/charitable organizations, if united, could afford to do their own research, find their own cures, and solve some pretty serious problems. Instead, each uses a celebrity bully pulpit to advocate for the small segment that garners their attention. Repetitive adversiting, promotion, solicitation extends across all the groups–and dilutes the available funds that could en masse fund committed, non-greedy scientists and medical researchers who still believe patients come before profits. The old military strategy of “divide and conquer” seems to work quite well for BigPharma. As long as small little groups plead for “special consideration” and are appeased by the infrequent bone thrown their way by government, Big Pharma can continue to pay huge executive salaries, reap obscene profits, and satisfy shareholders.
Laurie
Gotta love Micheal J!!