QDIS Blog

This article concerning changes in over-the-counter (OTC)cold medications is interesting.

Phenylephrine reformulation a flop?

The basic story is that in order to prevent pseudoephedrine from being extracted from OTC products and made in methamphetamine (aka crystal meth). The main product being used instead is phenylephrine. Below are the structures.

While these two compounds are similar in structure, they have very different effects in the body. I have heard personally from several folks who say the phenylephrine formulation is either totally ineffective compared to pseudoephedrine or not nearly as effective.

Here in Oregon, all pseudoephedrine products are behind the pharmacy counter and require filling out form and only a limited amount can be purchased.

This is another case of hurrying a “solution” without it being investigated. To my knowledge, no studies have been done comparing these and the article points this out. All medications must be both safe and efficacious. But again a lot of money would have to be spent for a small benefit in terms of the pharmaceutical company. That is there return in investment would not be large enough to justify studying it without some sort of incentive. Now, I think incentives can be abused but that this is an areas (along with orphan drug status) where it is worth it in the long run. This is an areas that I think the government should get into. Testing of drugs in some limited context when there is a overwhelming interest to consumers is where the government should get involved.

i personally think that a better effort would be to reformulate pseduoephedrine in such a way as to make it almost impossible to extract the active ingredient for making meth. However, again, the pharma companies are not going to invest a large amount of money into doing this since the pay off would be low compared to other possible activities they could invest their time and effort into. This is where a small company could make some money in collaboration with the government.

It remains to be seen what will be the outcome. My best guess is that phenylephrine will be withdraw as a cold medication due to lack of efficacy and that pseduoephedrine will continue to be available only directly from the pharmacist and in limited amounts.

Technorati Tags: col medicines, phenylephrine, pseduoephedrine, reformulation

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I found this recent article about the changes occurring within the biotech industry interesting.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Business > Biotechnology — Good old days gone for biotech:

Basically it talks about outsourcing and how it is impossible for US discovery businesses to compete on the basis of price with India or China. It is telling that large pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, are trying to get US companies to compete head to head, based on price with companies overseas. While I understand their need to get the lowest price, I also believe there is more to such contracts than just price. I think companies need to think about more than just price and to think loner term rather than the bottom line of the next quarter. If these higher paying jobs such as chemistry and biology are outsourced, what is left for those in the US even with an advanced degree?

Previously outsourcing use to be primarily in the manufacturing industries such as automobile parts or refrigerators. Now, it is increasingly moving to higher value industries and the pharmaceutical industry is a prime example. I personally have been caught up in this, not so much from an outsourcing perspective but from a merger of which cost cutting was a major factor. It was cheaper in a foreign country to hirer someone to do my job than to pay me the going wage in the US. I do not oppose outsourcing directly, but do ask what is to become of US citizens who no longer have a job. The common refrain is that there will be other jobs for the next “big thing” here in the US. But I argue that this has not happened and when I ask, no one can point to what the next “big thing” is.

I think too much focus on price has occurred and there needs to be a lot of thought given to whether or not outsourcing of almost everything is in the best interest of the US as a whole. This applies not only to large companies but also to individual. Our obsession with the cheapest price drives jobs overseas in order to meet those low price demands. By purchasing the cheapest items, we are indeed encouraging outsourcing. Instead of focus on bringing prices down, we should focus on increasing wages and better jobs here at home.

Technorati Tags: outsourcing, biotech

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