A Social Networking Site For Docs And Pharma
4 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // May 30th, 2008 // 8:25 am
A startup company wants to create a social-networking site that could link docs and drugmakers to help get cutting-edge cancer treatments to patients, The Arizona Republic.
MedTrust Online is developing a customized web site and database of medical literature, clinical trial information, treatment options and other data tailored to physicians who treat cancer patients, the paper writes. MedTrust, a spinoff of Translational Genomics Research Institute, believes the site will give docs access to the best and most timely info they don’t always have now.
The strategy is to create a link between willing docs and drugmakers. Yoo says that, since docs receive limited info from sales reps, the database could give doctors a much wider range of info. “We are trying to solve a problem that has been thrust upon the industry as a whole,” Chris Yoo, MedTrust’s ceo, tells the paper. “Patients may not be getting the best options because there is a problem with communication.”
How this will be established to monitor off-label communications is not clear.
So far, MedTrust has signed one Texas cancer group, and is nearing agreement with three others, including one in Arizona, Yoo says. And he expects to launch a test site for the Texas practice later this year, although he wouldn’t say how much docs or drugmakers will be charged for the service.
James
“How this will be established to monitor off-label communications is not clear.”
Umm…because it doesn’t sound like it will be. In fact, it sounds like the site is dedicated to that very purpose.
So much of cancer treatment is done off-label, and if they are looking to provide “access to the best and most timely info they don’t always have now” that’s clearly not what is “on label”. Further, since “The strategy is to create a link between willing docs and drugmakers,” well, it stands to reason that “info they don’t always have now” will be coming from drugmakers.
Wow. Just…wow. Considering how closely the Feds monitor off-label promotion, no drugmaker in their right mind will use this.
How many of them will be in their right mind?
Paul
Mmm, this is dangerous. Not because pharma may be involved but because there is already so much unregulated crap out there based on personal opinions. I believe that this just legitimizes it.
Lilli
The patient does not have any representation and neither with our elected officals. Doctors and Pharmaceutical companies may help some people but they do not allow the doctors to rport the adverse side effects that are causing problems. Cancer Centers are not working to help the patient and need better supervision. The method that many cancer centers utilize are not for the caring for the conditions of the cancer patients, itis oncerned with making money from the treatments. Some patients are misdiagnosed and might not have cancer. America’shealth care system must bedesigned tohelp thepatient and thehealthacare industries, meical profession or thepahraceutical industries. callme at 609 395 6792 forinformation.
brad
I think this is a great idea, we don’t know yet how this is going to be monitored. I agree that there are going to be issues that they are going to deal with but there is definitely a need out there for doctors and patients to have the best treatment options available.
We don’t know how this is going to be structured, but maybe they will create a system that will make the pharma/doc relationship more efficient.