I’ll See You In Health! Stephen Colbert Rebuts Ridiculous Crestor Claim
Posted on 19. Oct, 2009 by Kerry D Friesen, M.D. in Nutritional Therapy, Prevention
Not For Everyone!
OZ: THE LAND OF INFINITE MEDICAL ANSWERS
(THAT DOESN’T EXIST)
What does it mean when Comedy Central becomes the voice of reason in all things medical?
Only that when you get to the Emerald City and pull back the curtain and discover the Wizard of Oz is really the Wizard of Biz and incapable of solving all of your problems (but more than willing to take your money), you have finally reached the realm of medical realism rather than some pharmaceutical fantasy land.
Despite all the media hype and medical experts claiming otherwise, the so-called pleiotropic effects of statins are not sufficient to cure cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, aortic stenosis, cardiac myocyte hypertrophy or any other “trophy” for that matter.
Off-label applications excluded, all HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, in other words, “statins” are effective at lowering LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol (minimally)—but that’s it.
PHARMACEUTICAL FAIRY TALES
The AstraZeneca claims for Crestor however have to do with the inherent anti-inflammatory property of some statins.
Both vascular and neuro-inflammation are in fact critical risk-factors for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease. However, to suggest that everyone would benefit from taking Crestor is bad science and crass commerce.
There are better ways to reduce vascular inflammation. Taking a prescription medicine would be last on my list. A diet rich in polyphenols supplemented with multiple natural anti-inflammatory agents, including astaxanthin would be my preference.
In a Wall Street Journal interview, AstraZeneca CEO David Brennan downplayed the commercial impact of the Jupiter study while simultaneously suggesting that analyst’s forecasts were “pretty bullish”.
Given our current economy, where will the estimated 10 billion additional health care dollars come from that it would take to implement the plan, enforce compliance and manage the inevitable adverse drug reactions?
And what if the expected health benefits are never realized?
OUR DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING IDIOCRACY
Pharmaceutical companies spent an estimated $2.5 billion in 2000 on direct to consumer advertising and more than $4 billion in 2005.
In one year, prescriptions written for the 50 most heavily prescribed drugs increased by a whopping 25 percent compared to just 4 percent for all other drugs combined!
While direct-to-consumer advertising is illegal in Canada,it is nearly impossible to enforce.
Meanwhile here in America, pharmaceutical DTC advertising thrives in a virtually unregulated environment, emboldened by PhRMA, the lobbying group of the US drug industry.
THE PAL PROJECT AND THE “BITTER PILL” AWARDS
It has been left to watchdog groups (see PAL—the Prescription Access Litigation Project), to reign in the ridiculous.
For example, in 2006 both AstraZeneca’s Crestor and Pfizer’s Lipitor, received the coveted “Got Cholesterol?” award, given for “overpromoting expensive brand name statins,”.
A total of 5 of the country’s best selling drugs received “Bitter Pill” awards in 2006 for overly agressive and misleading DTC advertising.
That same year, AstraZeneca received a disciplinary letter from the FDA for a DTC advertising campaign claiming Crestor was more effective than other statins.
STEPHEN COLBERT AND THE COLBERT NATION: IS THE DOCTOR OF FINE ARTS IN?
Forget the Mayo brothers, if you need a sound dose of medical realism and a cheap second opinion, head straight to the office of Dr. Stephen T. Colbert DFA.
He may not have the bedside manner of a country doctor, but he at least has his medical facts right.
And except for Prescott Pharmaceuticals, Big Pharma doesn’t own him.
