Pharmalot… Pharmanot… So Long, Folks
261 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // January 5th, 2009 // 11:36 am
Dear Pharmalot friends,
This is my long goodbye.
For two glorious years, I have had the privilege and good fortune to run this site. Now, though, the time has come to walk away. This was a difficult decision, but one that is rooted in the turmoil engulfing the newspaper business. Let me explain.
Three years ago, I suggested a site that could somehow become a go-to destination for news and discussion concerning the pharmaceutical industry. As someone who had covered pharma for a decade, but was itching to do something different, a web site represented not only a next step in gathering and disseminating information, but also an opportunity to get ahead of the curve and move on to another stage in my career.
Happily, the notion was backed by Jim Willse, the editor of The Star-Ledger of New Jersey, which owns Pharmalot and is the flagship in the Newhouse chain of newspapers. After the usual planning and tinkering, Pharmalot launched exactly two years ago. And since then, the site has become popular and well-known – as of last month, we notched about 11,000 unique daily visitors and some 330,000 monthly pageviews on a 30-day rolling basis. There were accolades from The Financial Times and the Association of Health Care Journalists. I was regularly asked to speak at dinners and conferences.
Meanwhile, as you know, the newspaper business has been declining rapidly and, last summer, the Ledger offered generous buyouts, sufficiently generous that I was tempted to consider the package. And for various personal reasons, that is what I have chosen to do. Yes, there were discussions to continue with Pharmalot – the Ledger, particularly Willse, recognizes the potential for the site and I thoroughly enjoy the work. The long hours and intense routine may be grueling, but Pharmalot has been an extremely challenging and satisfying preoccupation. In the end, though, we were unable to find a path forward.
And so, I am now moving on. But before I go, I want to thank each of you for stopping by. Without your interest, support and, in many cases, participation, Pharmalot would have not have worked as well as it has. Yes, my experience and instinct guided me in deciding how to do certain things, but without your input and feedback, Pharmalot would not have had the same appeal. That’s because this was not just another site for information or the equivalent of a morning newspaper, but also a place where people could meet to discuss and debate all sorts of issues concerning the pharmaceutical industry. In short, we developed a community together.
And what a community. Some of you angrily attacked pharma. Some of you vociferously defended it. So often, there were many different perspectives on any number of topics. Whatever the point of view, the discussions were extremely informative. Certainly, for me. Thanks to the thousands and thousands of comments posted here, I have learned a great deal about the business, science and policy issues that shape and confront this industry. Hopefully, many of you feel the same way. After all, no one has cornered the market on knowledge, try as we may.
There are too many of you to list by name, but really, you know who you are. I am truly grateful for the prodding, the praise, the criticism, the reminders, the ideas, the corrections, the tips, and, most of all, the encouragement. No matter what you wrote, the fact that you did so at all meant that Pharmalot mattered enough for you to take the time to reach out. Somehow, the site was working, something I could not have accomplished alone.
On that note, I would like to thank a few people by name. As I mentioned, Jim Willse offered unwavering support from the start. Without an editor who has vision and conviction, very little can get done. So thanks, Jim, for allowing Pharmalot to get this far. Then, there’s John Hassell, who was the editor with whom I worked most closely these past two years and who gave me the space to try whatever I thought needed to be done. And Hassan Hodges, who fielded way too many late-night and early morning calls and e-mails when the site exploded or I simply had no idea what I was doing, Without his technical prowess, Pharmalot may have been a blank screen many days.
Last, but not least, I owe a tremendous debt to Mrs. Pharmalot and The Short People, one of whom is not so short anymore. My kids learned that when Dad had the laptop open – which was most of the time, eight days a week – he generally had to be left alone. Somehow, I managed to be attentive, but their understanding was above and beyond. And my wife, well, she put up with me working at home – otherwise known as the Pharmalot corporate campus – which is no small thing. Not only that, she brought me at least one cup of coffee each morning, no matter what. Thanks, sweetie, for being such a good sport.
So again, thank you all for making this such an enjoyable experience. For those of you who want to reach me, you either have my e-mail address or you can simply click on the ‘anonymous tip’ button on the top of the screen and send me a note (but do it soon). I will write back. Meanwhile, I would like to leave you with this reminder from the former Morning Mayor, otherwise known as Harry Harrison, a disc jockey on WCBS in New York, who would often say: ‘Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift.’ Yes, these are hard times, but somehow, we will get through it all. So please don’t lose sight. And finally, there is this, a refrain from a song that speaks of hope and endurance…
‘May the good lord shine a light on you,
Make every song you sing, your favorite tune.
May the good lord shine a light on you…warm, like an evening sun.’
So long, folks….
harpy
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
*sigh*
Thanks for everything, Ed. You leave a big hole in the blogosphere and you will be sorely missed.
Lisa Van S
Ed,
As you know, I recently became a Grandmother and I am enjoying every moment of it!!! I have also been involved in a major construction project which will be completed very shortly. I will be leaving, what you have so brilliantly dubbed, ” The Nation’s Medicine Chest”, Life always brings forth changes. I would like to personally thank you, for keeping important issues like informed consent and medication guides on the front burner for all to see. I wont say good-bye, I’ll just wish you well!!
G
I began to regularly check up on this blog because of the quality of the information and writing. Some blogs are poorly designed, terribly written, and full of bad information. For me, Pharmalot has stoodout and has been an excellent source of news and commentary about the pharmaceutical industry. Thanks for the hard work and good luck in your future endeavors!
condor
Oh the humanities!
We’ll surely see you resurface — and soon!
I know you’ll not be MIA for long. . . .
Namaste
C
Congratulations, Ed, on the buyout opportunity.
But a tremendous loss to the on-line health/pharma community.
Your content was timely and insightful, and became a must-read daily. While it is sad to see the fate of papers such as the Star-Ledger, sites such as Pharmalot are the prescription needed for the future of Newhouse.
Enjoy some time, but find a way back to us soon.
Wendy B
Oh no! What a sad surprise. The pharma blogosphere will not be the same without you.
Thank you for keeping us all so well educated and informed over the years. Best of luck to you in future endeavors!
http://intouchsolutionsdigital.blogspot.com/
Moonshooter
Hey, Ed,
Thanks from the gang at DNDN IV. I can’t speak for everyone, but most of us enjoyed Pharmalot and appreciated your coverage of pharmaceuticals, even if sometimes we were grouchy. Wishing you the best!
Nathan
Ed — thanks for all your hard work. Visiting your website has become so engrained in my breaktimes that it will take a while for me to get out of the habit!! I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve learned a lot about the industry I work for.
Finally, I have a question for you fellow-pharmalot-posters: Do you guys know of any other good pharma blog sites for me to visit during my coffeebreaks???? I follow “In the Pipeline”, but that site generally only attracts technical insiders like myself. I’ve really enjoyed engaging the “non-pharma-employed” crowd in conversation and debate on this site.
One final comment to Ed: I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DECIDED TO CLOSE DOWN THE WEBSITE PRIOR TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE LEVINE CASE!!!!!! How will I ever hear Justice’s insitefull commentary on the outcome???! (Justice, do you post elsewhere??)
Bye everyone!!
Nathan
Craig Niedenthal
Ed, sad to see you and this website go. It was my go to site to find out the latest inside information on the big pharma. This does leave a tremendous hole on the web for accurate and up to the minute reporting on issues relating to the pharmaceutical industry. I wish you all the luck and let us all know where you show up again, because I know you will be back.
Steve Woodruff
Dang. I’m going to miss you and your work, Ed. You’ve made great contributions to the on-line/pharma community.
big will
this is so sad.ugh
Ed from up North
Hey Ed,
I’ve been following your blog since the start and really enjoyed it. Your site has been great in getting up to date information. All the best as you move on.
Ed
MyPharmalotID
Say it ain’t so, Ed!
Wow, it’s been great! Nowhere else could we find someone willing to say it as it was but here, by you, on Pharmalot! Your investigative work is sorely needed today in the newspaper business, where, alas, the pages are more apt to be filled with reprints from the AP wire than real news.
I wish you well, my friend. You will be missed.
Jane Chin
I’m sorry to hear you’re no longer Pharmalot-ting with us, Ed.
You’ve been an asset in the industry by encouraging conversations and dialog. Where else (credible) can people now send anonymous tips…
I will miss you.
Ray Kerins
Ed,
As I have said in the past, you are one of the best reporters that we have had the pleasure to work with - smart, articulate and respectable.
The best thing about Pharmalot was that you covered the industry - not yourself.
I know I can speak for many in the industry when I say that this is truly a sad day. Thank you for all you have done.
Best wishes,
Ray Kerins, Pfizer
Paul Thacker
Ed,
You’ve run a really great news site. I can tell you that you have been widely read on the Hill and will be greatly missed.
I hope for the best for your future.
Steve
Ed,
I haven’t missed a day since I found your blog. There was always something that caught my eye and interest. I learned things here that were not to be found anywhere else.
The responding posts were fun to read and some, not so much. There were those that thought every reader should know what they were talking about, no matter how jumbled, proceeding with a long and sometimes boring discourse. It was almost like each person was trying to outdo the other. At times, I thought these folks felt they owned the blog to dispense their own personal “real” information. It always seemed to get off topic. To them, I suggest that Pharmalot be continued in setting up their own blog, so they can chat away, aimlessly.
Bottom line for Pharmalot: EXCELLENT articles and interviews.
Your hard work will be rewarded with a better financial environment, as after health, money pays the bills.
Greg Friberg
Thank you for your effort, it will be missed! Best wishes on your new path.
Scott Hensley
Ed,
I’m saddened by the end of Pharmalot. While some may have seen our blogs as rivals, I felt that we had far more in common than not. You accomplished a lot and can be proud of your work.
All the best,
Scott Hensley
WSJ Health Blog
themanbehindthescrene
tears and luck for you my dear Ed
Suki Fuller
When I have began working in Pharma - you helped me & I shall never forget that. It is so sad to see this awesome blog end but no matter what you shall remain a fabulous man. Thank you, Ed.
condor
So — will it be “Ed.Silverman.com”?
We, the assemled faithful, will google derivatives of that one, regularly — and repeatedly(!) — until we find you, on the “other side”!
Once I find it, I’ll post copious links to it, on mine, as a PSA of sorts.
Cheers!
Brad P. from NJ
Ed,
Thanks for all you’ve done. I’m pretty sure you know your work has been appreciated, but I wanted to appreciate you out loud.
You’ve always presented something for consideration, well-written, interesting, and well-informed.
Good luck, sir.
#iwork@novartis
Justice in Michigan
As far as I know, Pharmalot is entirely unique. Of course, there are other sites which post daily “headlines” (although rarely as up-to-date as Ed always has). But none, as far as I know, which have generated the kind of community of participants as Pharmalot. Many of us who met here almost certainly would not have met in other contexts. The tenor of discussion - usually thoughtful, respectful, informative - has also been unique. And especially the opportunity for “insiders” and the rest of us to learn from each other. Again, I am not aware of any other site which has anything resembling that.
For me, personally, Pharmalot has been my morning coffee - the first place I went after checking my personal email. It has also been an extraordinary resource for my students. And, as above, it has been that lawn party we have talked about. On certain days, and on certain threads, we could begin to imagine ways we really are all on the same side, and how different perspectives complement and enhance each other. I would like to believe we were on our way to some genuine solutions about issues that could not be more important, and about which we all care about so much.
Ed knows how much I have appreciated his work ad this site. So also I have appreciated getting to know all of you here. I do hope we will find a place to meet-up again and keep at least some of the “party” going. But when, how, where all remain unclear. It is, for me, a very sad day.
Justice in Michigan
For anyone who wants to be in touch, and perhaps be in contact if we are able to find some version of a ’second home,’ I can be reached at justiceinmich@gmail.com
toxchick
Oh no, I’m so sad to see this. I will really miss this blog–it is a daily stop for me.
Best of luck in your future ventures!
Mark Herrmann
Ed,
Pharmalot has been a wonderful resource for those of us who watch the pharmaceutical industry. We appreciate your work over the past two years, and we hope we’ll be seeing you again on the web in the near future.
Congratulations on what you created, and best of luck for the future!
Mark Herrmann (of the Drug and Device Law Blog)
PharmaHack
I am saddened to say goodbye to Pharmalot, and wish you the best, Ed.
Jaynesday
Ed, Thanks for all your hard work here on Pharmalot. You have a skill that is uncommon in the land of blog. To keep a group of passionate, opinionated and emotional people contained, contented and continuing to visit your site requires just the right amount of whatever you have. I think it’s called kindness and a true love for your fellow human being. You will go far, hopefully not too far from us.
Please post one more article about the ill affects of Pharmalot withdrawal.
Best wishes
David
mdsurf
Ed.
all good things go down sometime. all the best with your future and the short people
Jane Sarasohn-Kahn
Ed, you will be missed. Life is long, so we know we’ll see you somewhere wonderful. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Jane
Susan Bro
Ed,
What a magnificent path you’ve paved these last several years! Congratulations on the (albeit bittersweet) buyout, but I know it won’t be long before you return…enjoy some time off with Mrs. Pharmalot and those adorable Short People!
Awaiting in the Windy City…
Susan
Pharma Giles
Sorry to see that you’re winding things up here. Thanks for all of the leads in the past and most of all, for your own sense of humour.
Some people really take this stuff seriously, don’t they?
Very best wishes to you, your family and for your future.
Giles.
KT
Thank you so much for your candid news stories and entertaining wit!!! You will be greatly missed!!!!
God speed and good luck in your future business adventures!!!
Susan
Hi Ed,
I want to thank you for the work you did on behalf of those who were unable to get their story told otherwise. You made one group of people know that nothing can be completely shoved under the rug if only there is one good investigative reporter left to be found who is untethered by his company. The article that you wrote on our behalf was above and beyond anything we could have imagined.
I think many have come to depend on this site to help keep the responsible parties of so many dangerous situations accountable somehow- and it must have felt like the weight of the world at times- even if you enjoyed it.
Consumers being able to talk to people from the FDA and the drug companies directly. There is no other place that I know of where that happens. Not where people felt comfortable to do so. I do worry about the future of untainted new reporting- especially in areas where it is far easier to keep folks in the dark. Thank you for your invaluable service.
You are loved and shall not be forgotten.
AP, RN in TN
Oh, my, how sad. You have made a brighter spot in my work day that I will sorely miss. Good fortune to you and your new endeavors. Please keep the mailing list for any future venture along this line!
Andrea
Mark Senak
Ed - I join the chorus of sorrows that you are leaving. You made a big footprint and your writing was always topical and insightful and you will be missed. Good luck.
Best,
Mark Senak
Steve Littlejohn
Ed,
All the best to you and the family as you start the next chapter! Pharmalot was a great resource — you’ll be sorely missed.
These days, every big star seems to be making a come back so be sure to let us all know when you’re back online.
Steve
Trenton Beriont
Ed:
I have had the pleasure of both reading Pharmalot daily and being able to correspond with you about pharma and I appreciate your quick, thorough and witty responses.
The site has been a great resource and will be missed.
All the best,
Trenton
scott
Ed,
Thanks for providing and presenting all of the information that you have the past few years. We met in Union NJ and in Washington and I am thankful for the time you spent with me. I will miss this site. I hope only the best for you and your family.Let me know where you wind up.
Scott Fritz
SBA
WWHHHHAAATTTTTTTT???????
Your webpage and insight has always been extremely timely and resourceful. Thank you for all your efforts in keeping me informed of the Pharma marketplace.
I have always enjoyed your perspective.
Wish you well in your future endeavors.
Thank you. Take care.
A~
Norm
Ed,
I am sad to see you leave. You have made a real contribution to civilized discussion. I wish you good luck and good health.
Norm Smith
Peter Pitts
A loss that must not be prolonged.
Don’t be a stranger.
Peter Pitts
http://www.drugwonks.com
Adam J. Fein
Thanks for all of your great work, Ed. Look forward to finding out what you’ll be doing next!
Best regards,
Adam
B Billings
Ed —
Your professional coverage on the pharma beat will be missed. Hope to see you again down the road.
Bob
Gianna
thank you for all your hard work Ed.
You will be greatly missed.
riv
Ed and Hasan
Will this valuable site be archived?
The information here is too important to just disappear. It features in the footnotes and bibliographies of many an article and grad paper, and will in many more if accessible. This site is an educational treasure.
I hope you’ll be going freelance with your muckracking Ed. That’s really how I saw it, although sometimes you said something good about the industry (no-one’s perfect). I know you walked a fine line, but health consumer advocates could always depend on you to give us ammunition for the good fight. You were able to get information that others could not, although we knew it was there.
Many many thanks. Because of you, lives have been saved, health outcomes altered for the good, industry has been shaken, and many a fledgling advocate feeling hopeless read here and gained new resolve.
xxxooo
riv
Marilyn Mann
Ed, you will be sorely missed. There are many good blogs out there, but no exact equivalent to Pharmalot.
XXOO
Marilyn
susan
Mr. Silverman-
I am bipolar- and relied on your blog so much as my work as a mental health advocate here in the Garden State with NAMI and DBSA.
I just left a more caustic comment on FS- but for the last 2 years I have loved this site and you were the reason I have a subscription to the Newark Star Ledger.
Thank you for all the hard work you have done for this site, for mental health- and for NJ.
And thanks for making me smile thinking of Harry Harrison! Not to mention all the times you used Teletubby pictures!
James Forte
Ed, sorry to see you go. The Campbell Alliance team will miss you.
Best,
James
Maryn McKenna
This is such a loss. I’m very sorry you’re closing. (And equally sorry the the Star-Ledger was so short-sighted.) Your insights and network are very valuable to those of us seeking to understand Pharmaworld, and i hope you can find or create another outlet for them.
Maryn McKenna
SUPERBUG - http://drugresistantstaph.blogspot.com
Ellie
Ed, thank you for making room even for me, the parent of an only son killed by Zyprexa. I appreciated being able to read, and sometimes to contribute to your site.
ebliversidge@earthlink.net
S Waters
Ed,
So sorry to hear it…now that I’m taking some time at home with my own little ones, you were one of my lifelines back into the industry.
I’m sure you’ll have other opportunities to share your pharma insights. I only fear the next one will be on a paid information site that I can’t access. (I have a friend at Evaluate, if you are interested…)
I’ve been watching the Star Ledger, my daily paper, shrink a little here and there, but your departure is one that hurts!
Nicole
Thanks for your amazing posts over the past 2 years. I have only known about Pharmalot since June, but I have enjoyed every one of the posts. You will definitely be missed!!! Take care and good luck!
truthman30
You will be sadly missed Mr Silverman
But you did a great job with Pharmalot!
All the best :)
Steve S
Ed - loved your blog. It kept my google RSS reader humming! I’ll miss your posts as they have become an integral part of my daily information diet.
Best of luck in future endeavors
Rhonda
Wow, this was NOT what I expected for the first day back to work! You and the blog are part of my workday (and sometimes weekend workdays). I got the updates via email and it kept me up to date and informed on what may greet me at the office.
Surely the short people and Mrs. Pharmalot (soon to get a name change I presumb), will not want you hanging around the house all day drinking way too much coffee, so please do keep us informed on where you ‘land.’
Your dedication to the topic and the details is much appreciated, as is your timeliness and humor.
Tis a sad start to 2009.
Blessing to all that we ‘find’ one another soon at a new space and time.
Rick
well…darn it…. now I’m going to have to resort to doing my own work again instead of just cutting and pasting stuff from Pharmalot. Thanks for the good work Ed. I think my favorite Pharmalot character is the brunette with the big glasses and large nose accompanying an article with “What the….” in the title.
Bpatt
Ed you have done a tremendous job. I have gotten so many people hooked on Pharmalot. You tell it like it is…
I too had the same reaction as the first poster … oh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I feel like you are breaking up with me, please don’t go..
morebuck
Dear Ed, I’ll write a proper good bye note as soon as I stop blubbering. Joan
Tony F
Ed,
Congratulations on your buyout opportunity and in doing what’s best for your family!
Personally, like all the others who comment, this is sad news to read at the beginning of the New Year. Your coverage of a multitude of pharma and FDA events, sometimes not covered elsewhere, and the investigative reporting and reader contributions has made this website invaluable to me.
Thank you for your contributions and I’m eagerly looking forward to learning where Ed Silverman’s going to land next… let us know!
Best wishes!
Bernard Carroll
I second Riv’s request for the site to be archived… PLEASE!
Ed, I will remember you especially for your fair mindedness and balance, which can be hard to maintain on days the fur is flying. All the best, Barney Carroll.
DaveO
Mr. Pharmalot:
Sad to see you leave. You were always a reliable source of insight from the heart of pharmaland.
Writing about healthcare is your unique ability, and I hope you find a way to use it again soon. You brought a lot of value to the industry.
Warm regards,
-do
http://www.closerlook.com
Blue Dog Dem
Sad to see you go Ed!
I think we should all wear black arm bands to work tomorrow. What a sad day it will be.
Dianne
Ed – The very best to you and your family.
Pharmalot has been a great place to visit and I will miss it very much.
GoozNews
Ed,
You set a great example for how journalists can operate in this new medium: you found a niche; you offered fast-hitting news and opinion; and you built a readership. Congrats!
While 11,000 unique visitors daily may not seem like much to some, that level of readership is no different than what most reporters get in print. What papers forget is that their daily broadsheet circulation is nothing more than an aggregation of niche audiences like people (like me) who read Pharmalot.
I hope the fact that Newhouse allowed you to go does not bode ill for similar efforts in the future. You should be proud of the fact that your experiment was a raging success.
best wishes for the future,
Merrill (GoozNews.com)
Christiane Truelove
Ed,
I was hoping this didn’t have to happen; you and the WSJ Heath Blog have always been my best sources for the blog roundup. But having just heard from another Trenton Times person who took the buyout, I completely understand the decision you had to make.
Please keep in touch.
Regards,
Christiane Truelove
Editor in chief, Med Ad News and R&D Directions
Miguel
Ed,
I had to read more than twice your last post. I couldn’t believe it. I subscribe everything that has been commented previously: great job, excellent reporter, big hole in the blogosphere and so on. But in Spain there is a saying that goes “cuando el Diablo cierra una puerta, Dios abre una ventana” (“When the Devil closes a door, God opens a window!”).
We will miss you. Take care.
Miguel A. Tovar
D Bunker
Oh Darn: that’s one More e-mail alert to add to my pile: your name. Can’t wait to start seeing your reporting again.
All the best to you and yours Ed, and thanks.
Salmon
Ed,
What can I say. You offered me an opportunity to write an Op-Ed piece and although I never did take you up on it I later on did discuss a great deal through the comments. Of course there is a lot to come out yet. Somehow we need sites like this, although perhaps under a different business model.
Salmon
Amber Benson
Ed, I started every morning with your blog. Thanks for your relevant and insightful reporting. Your voice will be missed.
Amber Benson, Group Strategy Director
imc2
Thomas Sullivan
Ed,
Your writing is excellent, informative and often provocative, but great stuff none the less.
You will be missed! Through this experience you have gained an excellent understanding of the pharmaceutical business.
Tom
Doc
Ed,
Doc
Ed,
Doc
Ed,
Doc
Ed,
Doc
Ed,
Doc
Ed,
You are the best, best wishes in your future.
Philip Dawdy
this is simply tragic ed. best of luck on whatever is next.
thanks craigslist for making this happen!
concerned...
Best Wishes! Good Luck in the future..your blog will be missed…TREMENDOUSLY!
ChicNotGeek
This is a tough pill to swallow. Best of luck to you.
Michael Apolskis
Great blog! Frequent reader since inception. Pharmalot will be missed. Best wishes and good luck with any future endeavors.
Michael Apolskis
http://www.medicareupdate.typepad.com
Piper
Bye Ed :( I know you’ll come back…under another guise!
Ivan Oransky
We’ll miss you over here at SciAm. Looking forward to hearing about your next move.
Ivan Oransky
Managing Editor, Online
Scientific American
John English
This site has been a great service and I really enjoyed it.
Vaya con Dios, Ed!
Sarah Palmer
We at cafepharma are certainly disappointed to see you go. We’ve enjoyed your blog. We wish you well in your future endeavors. Please keep in touch.
Biologist
What a sad day…
I was one of your “silent” but nevertheless devoted fans… I’ll really miss this site.
Best of luck in your future endeavors.
Melody
Good luck on whatever the future brings. You’ll be missed; I appreciate your personal e-mail replies when this technophobe lost contact. You and your support staff created a truly user-friendly website, and I appreciate your success at corralling disparate, passionate readers, and allowing a bit of personal passion to sometimes break through without censorship.
Dan A.
Sniff.
Perry
Another reason for looking forward to come into work in the morning gone! Pharmalot will be sorely missed.
Thanks for all your insight and wisdom!
Gregg Masters
Ed, same sentiment from me, i.e., vaya con Dios. Bravo my friend! A very sad day today, imo.
tsteward
I read you every morning through RSS feed on my google start page and have dazzled people with my grasp (okay, your grasp) of the pharma industry for about a year now. I can’t thank you enough for putting it out there and wish you the best in your next adventure (the Little People will be delighted in the hiatus). Show us how it’s done.
BP Watch
Ed,
This is terrible news for those who have been concerned about the direction Big Pharma has been heading over the past 10 years. On the flipside, I suppose that the top executives are doing cartwheels in their suites. Another site where embarrasing news for Big Pharma made its way into print bites the dust. It’s time for them to party!
BP Watch
Mike Goodman
Ed, Truly sorry to see the Blog go. I owe you a couple of beers at Bunny’s — feel free to collect.
war horse
First PharmaGiles, now you. Blah!! The best pharma bloggers are dropping like flies. Read your column every day–always so smart, well written, and interesting. Best of luck
Bob Freeman
Alas, Ed, PharmaLot will be missed. All the best to you and I hope we will see you in a new venue very soon.
A dark day indeed.
Bob Freeman
joe
Ed,
Say it ain’t true. Pharmalot meansalot and will be missedalot. The very best to you in whatever your future holds.
Joe
Irv Arons
Hi Ed,
I just caught your news and second what others have already said.
I thank you for your insight into the two drugs that I have been writing about on my online Journal, Avastin and Lucentis (for treating AMD), and for putting my thoughts online in the comments section when you have written about them.
I will miss your blog and hope you resurrect it on another venue and, somehow, let us all know it is there.
Best regards for the future, your friend,
Irv Arons
Irv Arons’ Journal (http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com)
Ed Thomas
Dear Ed:
My sales force and I will miss your daily input. I always found something interesting
or humorous to convey to the Medi-Promotions guys and gals out there pounding the pavement.
I will miss your coverage,
Ed Thomas
laurie
Ed, you were the first person I called to talk about antidepressants….and within hours you were at my door looking for more information. I can’t thank you enough for what you have done to keep the subject alive and in the public eye.
When things calm down, we’ll do lunch…I’m buying!
Helene
Noooooo!!! Pharmalot was a tremendous resource and will be sorely missed. All the very, very best.
Lichtstrasse 35
Hi Ed: Sorry to see Pharmalot go. It was good to have a credible and concise place to go for pharma news and views, as well as the opinions and insights of the regular posters. With your experience and relationships I’m sure your next gig will be a good one.
Scott
I think like many of us, we’re sorry to see Pharmalot go. Of course, Pharmalot only worked because you were behind it! Best of luck in your new venture.
Pia Christensen
Pharmalot will certainly be missed. Fortunately Ed will still be posting items on Covering Health, the Association of Health Care Journalists’ blog at http://www.healthjournalism.org
xeno
MMMonline reports that Ed is moving to Elsevier’s Windhover/FDC Reports division (The Pink Sheet and In Vivo).
http://www.mmm-online.com/Pharmalots-Silverman-moves-to-FDC-Reports/article/123540
Any chance you’ll do some blogging from there Ed?
Doug Bremner
Ed,
I too am saddened too see this wonderful experiment come to a close, although I have to admit I wondered if this was coming with the Star Ledger biting the dust with other in print newspapers. You were always a fair and compassionate director of the lawn party and it is (was) really great to be a part of the dialogue with such an interesting, informed and diverse group of people. Makes me wonder what the future of journalism is, it is sad that such a great medium such as this has no easy way to generate the income.
Anyway, I’m sure we’ll see you popping up in another incarnation somewhere! Good luck, take care, and say hello to Mrs. Pharmalot and the short ones!
bob ehrlich
ed-you will be missed-great job covering the drug industry
Paul
Ed, no way!!
I could count on you for news and insights ahead of anyone else “in the know”.
Can you pick this up somewhere else? Can someone else pick this up and continue with your distant oversight?
Now I need all those drugs some trashed here…the withdrawal from Pharmalot is too much to take
Hap
Hope that you do well in whatever is next. Thank you.
B. Martin, MD
Ed, congrats to you and yours on the “generous” buyout. (Hey, at least you got one.) I’m sure we’ll see you someplace else soon.–Barb
Chris Swenson
Well, I first noticed you while you were still writing for the print version of the Star Ledger. I noticed you because you had a name that was the same as someone I knew from the pharmaceutical industry that left to write poetry and novels — I thought that perhaps you were he. But no, I figured out you were someone else. Anyway, I have followed your blog for ~ 2 years (Moreso recently as I have also been laid off from a pharmaceutical job in NJ). It was fun. Good Luck
Salmon
I just got word from FDA about new policies and procedures designed to coverup and override any independent scientific reviews by primary reviewers.
From now on primary reviewers will have to incorporate the consult reviews, e.g. Bob Powell’s pharmacometrics group and Lesko’s pharmacogenomics into their reviews. Then after approval by the primary reviewer’s team leader it goes back to the pharmacometrics and pharmacogenomics groups so they can override and harass any primary reviewer (and TL) who has an independent thought and disagrees with these groups that are clearly run only for the benefit of industry.
Salmon
Mike M
All the best Ed, certainly appreciated the dedication.
Insider
Fred Hassan and I would like to wish you all the best for the future.
Cheers
“Jack”
laura
Thank you for all of the hard work and dedication that you put into creating such a wonderful blog. I’ll miss you and all of the people I have come to “know” through their comments on Pharmalot. I’ve learned a lot from you and them and I hope that, in the near future, we’ll be able to come together again on a different site and continue our “lawn party”.
Best wishes!
bB
It’s so sad to hear this.
God bless you!
kevin grogan
It’s 1.30am in the UK and just before turning in I thought I’d look at your magnificent site and see if you were back from holidays. Devastated!
A very sad day but I wish you all the best for the future. Very best wishes
Kevin Grogan
PharmaTimes Online Editor
S Matthews
Ed,
I had the privilege of recenlty discovering Pharmalot and will miss your wit and the quality of information. I wish you a fun filled prosperous future and hope to read your writings somewhere sometime in the near future.
Congratulations on your package!
kyoto27
Ed, God Bless you and good luck! You brought much awareness to the issues that must be addressed by Pharma, and by our Congress (if they ever wake -up.) Meanwhile, your energy & spirit serves as an inspiration to all of us here and I am sure you will yet find a way to bring that energy to life again. All the best!
Anne PME
Ed,
Many thanks to you and the SL folks who helped you turn Pharmalot into a reality.
Above all, thank you to Mrs Pharmalot and the Short People for loaning you to us and letting us live vicariously on the Pharmalot campus courtesy of the ever present laptop…without having to pay room board or tuition.
All the best,
Anne Patenaude
Prevent Medical Error
Derek Lowe
Just heard about your shutdown - I’m sorry to hear it, but I hope that the terms of the buyout were generous. And I also hope that you find another enjoyable gig soon - I’ll be looking for you! You’re a fast guy with a headline; there has to be room for that out here on the internet. . .
Derek
Philip Rudnick
My best to you and Hank Greenberg.
Shalom
Phil Rudnick
jlater
Ed,
It has been an absolute pleasure reading your blog the past few years. As a youngster I grew up reading the Star-Ledger and enjoyed reading the business section about Pharma as I entered the industry. Even though I have now crossed the Hudson, I was delighted when Pharmalot first appeared and am saddened to see it go. Best wishes to you and your family (they have my thanks for allowing you to devote so much energy and enthusiasm to this endeavor).
JL
Nick Basta
Ed, the saying goes that you know who the pioneers are–they’re the ones with the arrows in their backs. You’ve brough a high level of professionalism to what is usually pretty thoughtless ranting and raving on the Web. Will miss your high-quality reporting and valuable insights into the industry for sure. Best of luck in future endeavors.
Theo
Ed,
Congratulations on your new role, what/where - ever that may be. Your Pharmalot ‘brand’ was a great resource to the pharma industry. Any replacement will likely be a generic! Your stock value is high, so your next ‘brand’ is likely to be a success.
T
former marketing exec
Dear Ed,
We will miss you and your intelligent reporting.
Best wishes for continued success in all your endeavors.
Bruce Goldberg
Ed,
Thanks for the education over the past two yrs. It’s been great learning from you…as well as getting encouragement from you and your site.
Bruce G.
CMC Guy
Ed,
Trust you will find success in whatever your next venture(s) including finding aspects that are not so consuming you can enjoy your family time.
All the best, CMCguy
Matt
Thanks for keeping us up to date on the goings on of Big Pharma.
PGN
All the best!!
Bruce Hamilton
Ed,
It’s been a rapid journey, and you’ve shown how well industry news can be provided in blogs.
I’m sure you’ll easily find another place, and thanks for all the effort you’ve contributed. Good luck for the future.
Please keep having fun,
Bruce Hamilton
Tanin
Dr Ed,
Thanks for providing an excellent pharma news blog. I wish you the best of luck in the future.
P.S. would be interested if anyone knows any other pharma news blogs (other than “In the Pipeline”, of course).
Lilly
Thanks ed for providing a site for so many, including me read and learn and sometimes comment. To pass on information.
Its been big help to many.
Lilly
Nancy Frugé
“Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.”
William Shakespeare
Pharmalot can be anywhere…
Barry Herman
Ed,
I will miss Pharmalot a lot, not a little, but a lot!
You were a great resource of industry-related issues and it provoked some important and interesting discussions (aside from those of the Kool-Aid drinkers).
Hope to see you pop up in the blogosphere some time soon!
Barry Herman, M.D.
Area Medical Officer, Sanofi-aventis
(formerly with Pfizer, Inc.)
The views and opinions expressed by Dr. Herman are not necessarily those of Sanofi-aventis or of Pfizer,Inc., their management, employees or agents.
Nancy Frugé
“psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry abide by different ethics and values”
Sharfstein S: Presidential address: advocacy as leadership. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163:1712–1715
Oscar Y
Please don’t go………………….
bentcar
Ed, all the best in your next exciting venture!!! Pharmalot and your firm grasp of the pharma industry will be sorely missed. “Only the good die young.” Lb
John Russell
Ed –
We never spoke, but I was a frequent visitor. I learned much about the industry in a hurry, thanks to you, after I was assigned to cover Big Pharma two years ago. I had a feeling you would be leaving us when I saw that you had accepted the buyout and then saw your “On Vacation” item yesterday. “Is this a permanent vacation for Pharmalot?” I wondered. I hoped it wouldn’t be. You’ll be missed.
John Russell
Indianapolis Star
JimK
Ed
I will miss this site and the various viewpoints; I was amazed at how prolific you were in providing information. I believed that you truly must have been working 24/7, no one could provide the constant flow of information without being continuously tuned in.
I learned as almost as much from the postings, even those that I did not participate in, as I did from your blogs.
So in addition to saying goodbye to you, I would also like to thank Justice in Michigan, FormerPharma, Salmon, Condor, and even Nathan for their input and for their well written and informative posts.
I hope you do revive this Blog but I understand economic necessities, so good luck in all of your future endeavors.
Jim Kirk AKA Jim or JIMK
Kerry
Good luck Ed!
We will miss you!!
Ger
Ed, it is with shock that I find that Pharmalot will be no more. You can take pride in the fact that you carried out your investigative journalism with distinction. You were the one who showed interest in the claims and practices of Dr. Edward Tobinick, a dermatologist who made extraordinary claims about a method of treating Alzheimer’s disease patients. Ed, did not just sit back and take Tobinick’s story straight from the wire as many lazy reporter did, he noted my concerns and took it from there, writing the story: Enbrel, Alzheimer’s And A Conroversial Doctor
http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/enbrel-alzheimers-and-a-controversial-doctor/
I do believe this story has played a part in protecting many Alzheimer’s families from wasting their savings on a bogus therapy. When the time comes, I do hope people will recognise the committment of Ed Silverman to highlighting this wrong. Ger
Jim Mueller
Ed,
Another silent reader who is truly sorry to see you go. Best of luck in your new endeavors. Whatever you do, have fun doing it.
Jim Mueller
The Motley Fool
Cindy Stolten
Well Ed, what a day for my computer to go down. Just got back online to this news. I don’t think there is a better pharma news blog out there. What am I to do now? You hunt down the best news out there! Things that even get past me! Thanks for all of the help you have given me through the years. You are one dedicated journalist who will be sorely missed by me and vaccinationews.com
All the best for the future!
Kari
I wish you the best of luck Ed!
I found your blog to be a reliable source of information and a great learning experience for someone new to the pharma industry such as myself.
I am learning to “Accept the Good,” so I will take what you have given us and consider it a gift.
Vibha Sharma
I will really miss your blog… was almost addicted to it. Seems all good things do come to an end after all.
Anyhow, all the best.
Regards,
Vibha Sharma
Mel
Ed
What big disappointment. I’ve been so impressed by your blog. Glad to hear that you will continue at Elsevier.
Best Wishes and Thanks for all your excellent work!!
Mel
Acid Reflux
Its really sad news.I often taking help from you.Anyway,best wish from me.
http://www.acidrefluxstomachpain.com
HelicalZz
Ed,
Thank you for running this site / service these past 2 years. It was appreciated and you’ll be missed terribly.
Zz
Al B.
Ed,
Sorry to hear that pharmalot will be shut down. As a pharmaceutical professional living in NJ I was reading your site daily but not the Star ledger of NJ! It is big wrong decicion for newspaper executives. I am sure you will do fine wherever you go and please do so quick since our society needs your work. Good Luck!
morebuck
I am truly sorry to see you go although I understand perfectly why you’re doing it! You handled Pharmalot with expert writing, fairness, great invesigative reporting and most of all humor.
I shall miss you. And hang on to Mrs. Pharmalot (I truly know what it’s like to have a dedicated journalist for a husband, it ain’t easy.)
Joan
Ger
Ed, We thank you very sweetly, we hand you back to the Short People and the parade in your honor, adieu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOEq-ImGWJ0
Everyday Reader
Ed,
I’m an information junkie; I don’t work in health care, pharmacy or biotech. I just try to be informed so that I can live a healthy, productive life. In addition to using the news you provided to help me make informed choices about what drugs to (not) take, you enabled me to provide accurate, timely information to many of my friends. Here are two examples:
When a friend of mine was being pressured into trying Chantix, I forwarded him your reporting and, because of his other underlying health issues, he chose to find another way to quit smoking.
A friend’s child was having behavioral problems as the parents were divorcing. My friend’s ex didn’t want to deal with the issues and instead wanted to have the child put on medication. Your reporting helped my friend convince the ex to go to family counseling. The counseling is largely solving the problems.
Multiply the experiences of me and my friends by the thousands of readers and their friends and families, and you will find that your reporting has helped hundreds of thousands of people make better, more informed choices about their health. When you consider all of the physicians whose prescribing habits are changing as a result of your work, the number of people whose lives are better for your wrk is in the millions.
I hope that you find another way to earn a living doing your pharmaceutical reporting. Your work is too valuable to be lost.
I look forward to reading you again soon.
Michael
Ed,
Please come back
David Sheon
Ed,
So sorry to hear about the end of a wonderful era - at least for us readers. I found you to be fair, friendly, and accessible. I hope we have a chance to work together in the future.
Best,
David Sheon
WHITECOAT Strategies
best wishes
The crooks in pharma are breathing a little easier today.
expharma
Ed-
thanks for keeping us informed. papers like pharma are shrinking be well
Freddie H.
Thank God! It will make my life a lot easier!
Carrie C.
I concur as I will be a lot better off with Pharmalot closed down. This action will definitely reduce the questions about how we conduct our business.
Paul Haider
Ed,
In a very short period of time, Pharmalot has become widely recognized as a top site for news and comment on prevailing health matters. You should be very proud of your accomplishments and their impact on written communication and debate.
We don’t often get the chance to say thanks for a job well done as we hurry through our busy day. I want you to personally know that Pharmalot will be missed and that you are leaving a void in the blogosphere.
Very Best Regards,
Paul
Justice in Michigan
As numbness becomes anger….
It is, indeed, true that the participants contributed a great deal of their knowledge, time, and effort to make this site what it has been. Ed built the campus and much more. We came to teach and learn. And even add to the library. And we did.
OK, so we won’t ask the SL for our own buy-out! ;) But I do think that keeping the site acceessible, in archival form, would be appropriate reciprocity.
Lee Howard
Ed,
As a fellow member of the Fourth Estate who covers the pharmaceutical industry on a regular basis, let me say that your blog helped open up a whole new world when I returned to reporting a year and a half ago. On my very first day back, I read a blog you posted about a security breach at Pfizer that turned out to be far more than the usual speculation and spin you find on the Web. Your blog combined the best of journalism — real NEWS and documentation to support it — with the wordsmithing ability of a columnist. You also responded to everyone in a pleasant and courteous manner that furthered the discussion rather than created stonewalls.
Congratulations on all you have done and all you hope to do. If you ever have an interest in continuing your work and need someone to help out (I’m currently working on a master’s in interactive communication), please don’t hesitate to let me know. Maybe we could move the whole thing to The Day’s Website at http://www.theday.com.
Good luck,
Lee
Jim Edwards
Sad news. A big gap has opened up.
Read Ed’s “exit interview” here:
http://industry.bnet.com/pharma/1000561/pharmalots-ed-silverman-the-exit-interview/
ATG
I’ve forwarded a LOT of your coverage in the past year, often items that I would have never found elsewhere. Thank you for that.
Some Taoist phrase or other (that reminds me of something served at a fast French food chain) goes: if you want the universe to fill your rice bowl, clean it out. I hope even better venues await you.
JJB
Ed,
I was a recent reader and will miss your efforts. Thanks for the information that you provided and good luck.
KLamb
Ed,
Best of luck - you broke ground with a new medium in an industry that needed a platform for discussion and debate. I thoroughly enjoyed following along.
Hopefully our paths will cross in the future.
George
The PBM’s, Big Pharma, HMO’s and the rest of the major insurance industries must be having a party!
The rest of us “common folk” are quite sad to see you go.
Thank you so much for keeping me informed and updated each and every morning.
May you and your family be well.
Sincerely,
George
Just A Thought
Maybe Ed is working in the capacity of a walking ad for antidepressants. I knew those meetings with the drug company execs would lead to no good.
;)
Sadly I can’t stop coming here. Ya get to feeling like a 12 year old who had his Wii taken away for bad behavior. Jonesing for the LOT!
I learned a whole new language from all of you good people. Thanks so much.
Again Ed- AMAZING RIDE!
Peace and good fortune for you and yours.
Jaynesday
Ed notes in his post -
“as of last month, we notched about 11,000 unique daily visitors and some 330,000 monthly pageviews on a 30-day rolling basis. There were accolades from The Financial Times and the Association of Health Care Journalists”
I’m no advertising expert but wouldn’t this be worth something to some businesses?
I would think that a few businesses would be more than happy to support a site with over 2,860,000 unique daily visits per year and 3,960,000 yearly page views.
How about it McDonalds, Anheuser Bush, Coca Cola, Wyeth?… well skip the last one.
Gregory
Ed,
Your article about why pharma doesn’t engage with new media is even more timely now. Excellent piece and why oh why doesn’t the pharma industry get with it. Not too late but one influential correspondent fewer:
http://www.nine-tz.com/ozone/view.php?a=17
Tks
WallyRoger
Ed:
I work in the Pharma industry and have enjoyed my almost daily visits to read your blog. Your professionalism will be missed. I hope that you pop up somewhere else in the future to help keep us informed about the sometimes crazy goings-on in this industry. Good luck to you in whatever comes next. You deserve it!
Bill
Huge loss to the industry!!! You and the blog will be sorely missed.
Christe Bruderlin-Nelson
Oh, how I will miss you! I read your wise words every day and referenced you often. You are an amazing industry voice and such an entertaining writer.
HOWEVER, life is short, and short people get tall so quickly. In that spirit, kudos to you for making the right decision for your family.
Rock on, Ed!
COP
Ed, we’ll miss you! Good luck for your future endeavors. –chintan
David Ross
Ed,
This is a huge loss for all of us(except of course, Mrs. Pharmalot and the Short People, with whom, I hope, you will be able to spend more time!). You set and consistently maintained a high standard for Pharmalot - my day wasn’t complete without checking to see what was new. Your professionalism, dedication, and wit will be sorely missed. Best of luck.
filippo cipriani
pharmablog was a key part of my working routine, I will miss it!
good luck and a big thank you
Mike Hubert
Ed,
You will be missed. Thank you for all the contributions that you have made. Your professionalism, candor and honesty truly set you apart.
I hope our paths continuing to cross in the future.
All the best,
Mike Hubert
Kevin
Thank you for all your hard work over the past couple of years. This site will be missed!
Bill
Ed,
It’s been a pleasure. I thought Pharmalot provided a great forum about what’s happening in the drug business. I hope you’ll be able to continue your great work in a new forum.
Best Regards,
Bill Borden
David
Ed, your short people have a lot to look up to.
Arlene Teck
Thanks, Ed, for everything!
And good luck in your future endeavors.
We will all be watching, waiting to see where you end up!
Please keep us posted.
All the best,
Arlene Teck
pundit
Gregory/Ed that was a pretty interesting article you found. Ed - any more like that planned in your new gig?
p
Dman
Hey Ed-
Thank you for two great years. The joy and sorrow of watching the drug industry make total fools out of themselves will be missed.
Thanks for giving us some insight.
Have fun with the ‘Short people’
Sabina Heggie
Sorry to see you go. As a pharma copywriter your blog kept it real for me.
Janelle at AccessCR
I’ve been a constant reader of your blog since discovering it last year, and one I’ve recommended articles in to others regularly. It’s loss will create a hole for me, and many others clearly given the traffic you’ve achieved. Pretty amazing. I’d be happy with even 10% of your visitors!
Best of luck.
J Severs
Best wishes for the future.
Also kudos for quoting “Exile on Main St”.
Evelyn Pringle
Ed,
I wish you had a dollar for every time I thought of sending you an email to let you know how much I enjoyed and appreciated your great reporting on Pharmalot.
I came to rely on you far more than you will ever know. If I fell behind on currant events, I always knew I could click on Pharmalot to catch up.
You will be sadly missed.
Evelyn Pringle
Total eHealth
Well, I am just getting involved into the health scene but I must say your blog and website in general was very successful and those stats are very impressive.
From reading the comments posted, you will be missed. I wish I had the opportunity to check out your blog more, as I just heard of it. I would have definitely added your site as a great resource to my own.
Good luck in your venture, and I hope you made out well with the sale of this site.
Long live good content. Sites like yours make the web a really educational and resourceful place.
BOB FIDDAMAN
You rock Ed. You always will.
All the best in the future and thanks once again for highlighting the whole Benbowgate video.
Fid
Seroxat Sufferers Author
http://fiddaman.blogspot.com
Bill
This is a real disappointment. Thank you for all of your hard work. I was a daily reader and will miss this part of my routine.
Thanks again,
Bill
BT
Ed, I am fairly new to Pharmalot’s treasures, and now you are departing Pharmalotland. Not fair for us! I will miss your meticulous reporting and links to the evidence. I especially enjoyed the ones about people I used to work with.
That said, congratulations on your buyout and this new phase of your life. I hope you resurface soon–we need Pharmalot II! Thanks for all you have done.
Pharmacritique
Sad news… I couldn’t believe it and had to look again later to see if this wasn’t some kind of joke.
Thank you for your excellent work, Ed! You will be missed in France too.
Good luck and all the best to you and your family,
Pharmacritique
Marianne Skolek
Lots of happiness and success in 2009. You are quite a guy and I know good things will continue to be ahead of you.
Fernando Comas
My better and big desires of success in your new work.
fernando comas
editor
Dana Zelig
Ed,
Thank you for keeping us up to date on breaking news in the pharma industry. Pharmalot will truly be missed!
Dana Zelig, Pharma Compliance Blog Editor
http://pharmacomplianceblog.blogspot.com/
Tom
Thanks for your great work! Hopefully this good work can be continued somewhere….
gona miss ya!
Thanks so much for all your hard work, Ed!
Your voice will be very much missed as Pharmalot had become required reading for any industry watcher.
Enjoy the time with your family, and I hope to see you popping up somewhere soon.
Pharmacritique
Thanks for your excellent work, Ed! You will be missed in France too!
Good luck and all the best for you and your family!
Pharmacritique
PS. I wanted to say good bye in French, on my blog, where I often quote you:
http://pharmacritique.20minutes-blogs.fr/archive/2009/01/10/ed-silvermann-le-prolifique-auteur-du-blog-pharmalot-s-en-va.html
Pharmacritique
Thanks for your excellent work, Ed!
Good luck and all the best to you and your family!
Pharmacritique
PS/ You will be missed in France too, as you can see here:
http://pharmacritique.20minutes-blogs.fr/archive/2009/01/10/ed-silvermann-le-prolifique-auteur-du-blog-pharmalot-s-en-va.html
Justice in Michigan
FOR FRIENDS WHO STILL STOP BY…
In fondest tribute to Ed Silverman and his extraordinary Pharmalot site, and with appreciation to the Newark Star Ledger for sponsoring Pharmalot, a few of us Pharmalot “refugees” have founded the site, “Pharmalittle” - http://pharmalittle.blogspot.com/
This is an all-volunteer, unfunded effort. Needless to say, it ain’t no Pharmalot. Our hope is simply to keep a few of the conversations going about issues of shared concern.
Given our limits in time and person-power, we will post very selected news, have short bloggette discussion starters, and perhaps a surprising interview or two every now and then. Issues of particular focus are likely to be FDA (including preemption), pharma and politics, and perennial issues like DTCA, COIs, and the like. Occasionally, we may post a article that is an ‘oldy but goody’ - just for the sake of discussion. As here, our core goal is to learn from each other.
On the other hand, should we get a scoop, we won’t hesitate to pass it on. Just send a us a cone.
Best to all, and hope to see you on PharmaLittle - http://pharmalittle.blogspot.com/
Stephany
What a great service this blog is/was and I will miss it! thanks for the long hours and dedication.
Stephany at soulful sepulcher
harry
Congrats on your well deserved change of pace. I learned a lot from this site as you were very generous (transparent) in every aspect of your reporting, including sources, for example supporting documents which are always interesting. I hope that we will continue to hear from you, maybe on pharmalittle,(amusing title, but a much needed site to fill the void)
Take care..
Salmon
For Ed and friends who are interested in my take on Peter Pitts’ Dec 24th article on the FDA take a look at:
http://shearlingsplowed.blogspot.com
Specifically the January 6th, 2009 post:
Is Schering-Plough a “Bust-Up” Play, at Present?
The best view may be had by clicking on the title or via the following link:
http://shearlingsplowed.blogspot.com/2009/01/is-schering-plough-bust-up-play-at.html
Salmon
Peter Staley
Ed — thanks for all you did. I learned a lot from your example as I started blogging about HIV/AIDS this past year. You’ll be sorely missed. I hope our paths cross again soon enough.
Cheers,
Peter Staley
Founder & Advisory Editor
AIDSmeds.com
Vladimir Chupakhin
Thank’s a lot!
JP
-Ed
I have just started working with a healthcare technology start-up and began reading your blog about midway through last year.
Recently out of school, and with little direct experience in Pharma, your blog was ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL in teaching me the arcane, mystic ways of the Pharma industry. I was even trying to get money to advertise on your site!
I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors-Thanks for building the most useful blog i’ve ever read.
-Justin
Virginia
Si Newhouse is more of an idiot than I thought. Yes, maybe it is time to let the Star-Ledger die. But not building on strong blogs like yours to create a 21st century media presence on the Internet (no, the lame NJ.com site does not count) is simply insane. I hope you find a new blog home soon.
Peter Pan
BrandNRx, Question A and now Pharmalot. Not good!
Ed, it was great while it lasted. Many thanks! Nice balance: provocative, current and always insightful with the drawing power to get many of us frequently involved as readers and contributors.
You will be missed.
Elle
We will miss you Ed. :(
Nathan
For all of you Ed Silverman fans: I just saw that Ed wrote a contribution over at the “In Vivo” blog. It looks like that will be his semi-regular outlet for now.
http://invivoblog.blogspot.com/
Missing Ed
Thanks Nathan.
I did a search for Ed’s work and found it here:
http://invivoblog.blogspot.com/search?q=ed+silverman
Hope the direct link works. If not you can type Ed Silverman into the search engine on the site and get to it that way.
Gina Pera
Ack, and I just discovered your blog!
I hope the archives will remain, as I’d like to start plowing through them.
Best of luck in future endeavors.
Gina
Vikas Dandekar
Hi Ed,
You had been a great inspiration for people like me, tracking pharmaceutical stories. Hope you are back with a bigger bang SOOOON…
Will miss you and this fantastic resource.
All the best.
Darcy
Ed, you’ve been a master at building awareness. Thank you SO MUCH for your dedication and hard work, and thanks to your family for supporting you. Very sorry to see this great endeavour move into silence. I dream of having lunch with you someday, maybe alongside Laurie? :)
RodMac
Wow! I turn around for a couple of minutes (okay, it was a long holiday vacation) and when I look back, you’re gone! Sad day for us, no more daily Ed-fix. Thanks for the terrific work with Pharmalot, and we wish you the very best in whatever you’re going to do next.
Truth Only
Ed, This is shock! But a tall tree does not last forever in the forest. Thanks for exposing all the rotten big pharmas. You brought to life a lot of crooked crooks, so they lobbied to turn off the light. No matter what happens, the true will always prevail. Their stocks are sinking fast! And FDA is sweating!
Good luck
Truth forever
UKgal
Hey Ed, Some of us DO take these things seriously and thats because the world really does need people like you. Things are going wrong for too many people. Please come back when you’ve rested, when the Short People in you family understand, when you feel you can.
TBTAM
Sad day, you will be missed. This has been a fantastic blog. Thanks for all the great reads over the years.
Alfred
We hope to really find a cure and that is long, say the same thing and so far many people still suffer and can not find any solution, something that is fast and effective because the pain of this disease is unbearable, I read about this page findrxonline.com and interesting information I think we can give adequate information for people who need it.
homes
Hi I really thankful to you because you are simply greatI am very happy to post my comment in this blog. I gathered lot of information from this site. Now I need all those drugs some trashed here…the withdrawal from Pharmalot is too much to take.Nice blog.
Tom
homes
SUNIL S CHIPLUNKAR
Once a blogger - always a blogger!! This ‘change’ mentioned by you will leave you wealthier, and wiser - but you will always be a blogger - the question is to find out your new avatar of a blogger - waiting to see you on the internet blog world.
http://www.pharmaceuticalshealthcare.blogspot.com
Nancy
Read Ed’s March 16 post on The IN VIVO Blog, here;
http://invivoblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Frank%20Torti
and Ed’s March 19 post, here:
http://www.healthjournalism.org/blog/2009/03/fda-leader-warns-staff-about-leaking-information/
Angie_mirelle
It has to be a good diet, as which I found in http://www.dietas-efectivas.com where based on exercises you can eliminate great quantity of fat and muscular mass and this allows you a better physical yield, I believe that it was the most guessed right thing that I have realized…
Ask the doctor
I will personally miss this blog. It has been great and gave a great deal of advice for the time it was here. Good luck in the future.
Pain relief
How to buy prescription drugs…? My doctor prescribed vicodin for a while back, my back hurts, I think it is a great help, but in my country it is difficult to find, it is paramount to have my information on it and found information about findrxonline..com the medicine, because it provided me.
Jean-Loup
Dear Ed,
I would really like to talk to you about your experience at Pharmalot. I have some ideas that I would like to share with you about moving on further with your work at Pharmalot. Let me know how can I contact you to set up a conf call.
Sincerely
Jean-Loup
Jean-Loup Romet-Lemonne, MD
BioBusiness.TV
President & CEO
233 West 15th Street, Suite 4E
New York, NY 10011
Office: +1 347 410 7073
Cell: +1 917 915 207
Web: http://www.biobusiness.tv
Megan
I came across your nice website on the the other day and saw a some of your earlier posts that you did previously . I just added you to my bookmarks. Keep up the great work. i will Look forward to reading more from you again.
Eric Melin
hi,
Very nice to visit your blog and found very interesting. I also have an blog http://www.jazdlifesciences.com, which is a free online B2B business directory for Sales Solution with Guaranteed Results forthe blogs related to life sciences, Earth sciences and global warming etc.I Want that You will give me a link on your blog and I will do the same for you.
Thank you
Eric Melin
sbs sonucu
I want to thank you for this informative read, I really appreciate sharing this great post. Keep up your work.
Erika
Dear Ed,
This is a real loss, both in my personal fun life and in my professional one (agency with lots of pharma clients). I could always count on Pharmalot to make me laugh or growl. I admire your integrity, fearless journalism, and the talent for sniffing out things and putting them together. Are you sure it’s only been two years, like you mention in your farewell note? Why why why??? I hope not because of perceived lack of appreciation. You have that in spades.
If you should brave the publishing waters again, please email your new location and/or profession, pharma or otherwise. You are gifted.
best wishes,
erika
henry
On the subject of antipsychotic drugs and children, here’s some interesting data from the Florida Council for Community Mental Health:
Diagnoses of Children Receiving Antipsychotic Medications, 2005-06.
ADHD 38%
Affective Disorder 19%
Conduct Disorder 10%
Major Depression 8%
Schizophrenia/psychosis 8%
Autism 4.4%
Adjustment Disorder 3%
This was a shock to me, to learn that ADHD tops the list.
henrymaquli
lawyer directory
henry
As you know, I recently became a Grandmother and I am enjoying every moment of it!!! I have also been involved in a major construction project which will be completed very shortly. I will be leaving, what you have so brilliantly dubbed, ” The Nation’s Medicine Chest”, Life always brings forth changes. I would like to personally thank you, for keeping important issues like informed consent and medication guides on the front burner for all to see. I wont say good-bye, I’ll just wish you well!!
henrymaquli
lawyer directory
Eric Melin
hi,
Very nice to visit your blog and found very interesting. I also have an blog http://www.jazd.net, which is a free online B2B business directory for Sales Solution with Guaranteed Results. I Want that You will give me a link on your blog and I will do the same for you.
Thank you
Eric Melin
Testosterone Therapy
Some blogs are poorly designed, terribly written, and full of bad information. For me, Pharmalot has stoodout and has been an excellent source of news and commentary about the pharmaceutical industry.Get more information from here:Testosterone Therapy
Curious
Wondering if this new look is the beginning of Pharmalot restructuring? Or maybe this is a leaner for achiving purposes?
Did Ed contact Jean-Loup Romet-Lemonne, MD?
Ed Silverman
Dear Curious,
That was a coding glitch, but we are eyeing a revival in some fashion.
Thanks for your interest
Curious
Fantastic News!
Pharmacy Applicants Database
This is my first visit here! Looks like you had a great pharma blog going, but I guess it was wrong timing for me
Chris
Hey Ed,
I saw a light on and stopped by. Nice to see the place is still open for business…
I’ll be back.
Dayton Lawyer
Ed,
You have done great work…I enjoyed reading your blog.
Tom Jenkins @ Spokane Lawyer
Marc
Sorry to see you go, but your hard work will continue to live on in the interwebs :)
Beverly Hills Rhinoplasty
Ed,
Thanks for all of the information. Good luck in your future endeavors.
Tom
Jim
What a shame…I enjoyed reading this blog.
Jim @ Brazilian Cherry Flooring
Greg House
Science today has changed, I hope you used the right way, because there are medications such as vicodin, oxycodone, Lortab, etc, are anxiolytic and although much help to soothe the pain, can be double-edged weapon to control pain, so indicate in findrxonline to be confident that this discovery is beneficial to all.
Juan Carlos
Parkinson’s disease is caused by deterioration or death of certain neurons in a brain area known as substance nigra. These neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting the signals between the substance nigra and the corpus striatum, upon a good muscle activity.
The decrease in dopamine production in patients causes an inability to direct or control their movements as normal, due to lack of nerve cells in the striatum. Studies that findrxonline has shown that Parkinson’s patients have a loss of 80% or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substance nigra. The cause of this cell death or damage is unknown.
Portland window cleaning
So sorry to see you go Ed. You will definitely be missed.
Portland window cleaning
It’s too bad, this was a great blog.
Lewis
Medicines have to be controlled mainly by the different situations that can determine, is known to the world that much addiction to drugs such as Vicodin, Lortab, OxyContin, Codeine, which are anxiolytics and may cause collateral damage from this situation, why care and prevention, and self says we should not resort to findrxonline but specialist.
ZIcam lawsuit attorneys
The newspaper industry really has been hit hard. Best of luck in all your future pursuits, I am sure that with the dedication you have shown the site there isn’t anything stopping you.
————————
Mesothelioma attorney
HVCC webinar
Mc Gregor
Very careful about the heart attack studies in findrxonline indicate that we must be careful and avoid any situation that we regret later, remember that those increases in weight and which have much dependence on cigarette and alcohol are the most vulnerable to a sudden heart attack care.
dennis
This is sad. You have helped inform a lot of us over the years,
Thank you.
Chayanne
Parkinson’s disease is caused by deterioration or death of certain neurons in a brain area known as substance nigra. These neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting the signals between the substance nigra and the corpus striatum, upon a good muscle activity.
The decrease in dopamine production in patients causes an inability to direct or control their movements as normal, due to lack of nerve cells in the striatum. Studies that findrxonline has shown that Parkinson’s patients have a loss of 80% or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substance nigra. The cause of this cell death or damage is unknown.
Susan
Ed,
You have to be missing this by now. Come back.
Hope you are well.
Jacksonville
At least 34 million Americans suffer from chronic pain caused by conditions including arthritis, lower back problems, neuralgia, or migraine headaches. Some 15 million working Americans have pain on a chronic basis.
Having injured my back this summer, I have come to learn a lot about pain firsthand. Pain can be hard to define. It means different things to different people and your own perception of pain can change over time. For some people, acknowledging pain is a sign of weakness. What most people don’t realize is that pain is a medical problem — and that it can be treated.
How do you measure your pain? It is difficult. No lab tests or X-rays can convey to your doctor what you are feeling , it indicates findrxonline in his article about this topic.But even when pain is intense, many people struggle to find the words to describe it to the doctor. It is important to understand whether you suffer from acute or chronic pain.
Serena Williams
Medicines have to be controlled mainly by the different situations that can determine, is known to the world that much addiction to drugs such as Vicodin, Lortab, OxyContin, Codeine, which are anxiolytics and may cause collateral damage from this situation, why care and prevention, and self says we should not resort to findrxonline but specialist.
Greg House
At least 34 million Americans suffer from chronic pain caused by conditions including arthritis, lower back problems, neuralgia, or migraine headaches. Some 15 million working Americans have pain on a chronic basis.
Having injured my back this summer, I have come to learn a lot about pain firsthand. Pain can be hard to define. It means different things to different people and your own perception of pain can change over time. For some people, acknowledging pain is a sign of weakness. What most people don’t realize is that pain is a medical problem — and that it can be treated.
How do you measure your pain? It is difficult. No lab tests or X-rays can convey to your doctor what you are feeling , it indicates findrxonline in his article about this topic.But even when pain is intense, many people struggle to find the words to describe it to the doctor. It is important to understand whether you suffer from acute or chronic pain
GCP Training
Good bye and good luck…
Hope you are well.
TradesShowAmigo
Best wishes to you in you in this season of your life! Blessings~
Michigan
An equipment of the American Hospital of Children of Boston concluded that the high cholesterol levels accelerate the growth of tumors in the prostate, and also that the medicines to reduce to the cholesterol, calls estatina, can inhibit the growth of the prostate cancer, well said by the last findrxonline bill being debated at this time. The findings of the study could help to understand why the prostate cancer is commonest in the West, where the diets tend to be high in cholesterol. The rates of cancer of the prostate in the countryside of China and Japan, where generally the diets are low in fats, are 90% less than in the West. Nevertheless, when Eastern men emigrate towards the West increase the possibilities of being diagnosed with cancer of the prostate. That has lead the doctors to suspect that factors of the environment, like the diet, could play a significant role in the development of the disease.
Doc
Welcome back Ed! We’ve missed you!
Consumer Advocate
Some blogs are poorly managed, terribly designed, and full of bad information. For me, Pharmalot has been just the opposite and has been an excellent source of news and commentary about the pharmaceutical industry. We will continue to honor this site and Ed at our site. Get more information from here:Buy Xanax although our site shares information about prescription drugs we often try to discuss matters in the pharmaceutical world just as Ed and Pharmalot has done so well. unfortunately, no one can do it quite like Ed. We wish you the best!