As someone who worked in pharmaceuticals before switching to education, let me tell you that all that the above poster(s) said is true. I have seen clinical studies done backwards - that is making patient data fit the stats for an NDA (new drug application) to FDA, I have seen contests run whereby the MD who prescribes the most "whatever" gets a free vacation for him/herself and siginifcant other to Tahiti or Pago Pago, I have seen criminal manipulation of statistics re NDA's, in short I have seen it all. There is also the "revolving door" between the pharmaceutical companies and the FDA!

I also have a relative who was prescribed Neurontin after a back operation who had a grand mal seizure from it.

The pharmaceutical lobby in DC is HUGE - and the government is in it's hip pocket. Why do you think prices of Rx drugs are sky high in this country - why do you think MD's are scared to death of DEA re prescribing pain medication - it's all about keeping the status quo and feeding the greedy pharmaceutical companies who keep screaming the high cost of R&D - my backside - its the humongous cost re the perks offered to the officers of these greedy corporations. corporatiions!!!!!!!!!!!