Research Ethics: in clear sight

First paragraph: On a Friday night in March 2009, I joined more than 30 doctors gathered at the Gleneagles Hotel for predinner drinks. We were attending a weekend meeting at the invitation of the University of Dundee's Hypertension Research Centre and Medicines Monitoring Unit after "positive feedback" from a similar gathering in January. Both meetings aimed to provide practices with sufficient information about the Standard Care versus Celecoxib Outcome Trial (SCOT) to enable general practitioners to decide whether to participate

A case of critical thinking: marketing strategies used to promote licensed drugs

First paragraph: The UK government has stressed the need to question and challenge the actions of drug companies and the effect they may have on patients. A report by the House of Commons (HoC) Health Select Committee on The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry noted that it was important ‘to examine critically the industry's impact on health to guard against excessive and damaging dependencies' (HoC 2005, p. 97). Given ‘profit-maximisation' is drug companies' main purpose while patients strive for the ‘optimisation of drugs' benefit-risk ratios' (Abraham 2008, p. 869), this called for a case of critical thinking

Tobacco Harm Reduction and Nicotine Containing Products: Research Priorities and Policy Directions

Developments in tobacco harm reduction (HR) and the proliferation of nicotine containing products (NCPs) have important implications for tobaco control (TC). This report sets out a research agenda which will help map and examine these implications

The marketing of e-cigarettes: a quick snapshot

First paragraph: The electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) was launched as a new consumer product in the UK eight years ago.ii Sales now exceed half a million per year and analysts predict the e-cigarette industry, which is worth £150 million in the UK,iii will continue to grow as usage among smokers has more than doubled in two years.iv At present, they are not classed as tobacco products or medicines in the UK and are therefore only regulated under Trading Standards legislation. The situation may change if the health regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), enforces tighter regulations - a decision on whether e-cigarettes require marketing authorisation to prove safety and efficacy is imminent

Britain's efforts to reduce smoking are becoming a cash cow for big tobacco

First paragraph: It all began so well. A decade ago a heartfelt concern about the addictiveness of nicotine, and the enormous difficulties this presented for would-be quitters, led to an unprecedented investment in intensive smoking cessation services. Beyond Smoking Kills proudly proclaimed year-on-year increases in funding for stop-smoking services and the establishment of centres throughout the country. Access this article on The Conversation website: https://theconversation.com/britains-efforts-to-reduce-smoking-are-becoming-a-cash-cow-for-big-tobacco-2533

Lobby Watch: The Social Issues Research Centre

First paragraph: The Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC) is an "independent, non-profit organisation" that says it carries out "balanced, calm and thoughtful" research on lifestyle issues such as drinking, diet, and pharmaceuticals (www.sirc.org). However, it may be perceived that the organisation acts more like a public relations agency for the corporations that fund its activities. These include Diageo, Flora, Coca-Cola, GlaxoSmithKline, and Roche, among others. Although SIRC does publish this partial list of funders, it is not immediately apparent which company has sponsored which study. And in some instances this information is not included in media reports

Tobacco harm reduction: the devil is in the deployment

First paragraph: The idea of tobacco harm reduction -- that smokers who cannot wean themselves off nicotine should be encouraged to adopt less harmful ways of consuming it -- has much to recommend it. It avoids the trap of making the excellent (complete cessation) the enemy of the good (reduced harm) and provides a way forward where otherwise there is only a cruel impasse. It also provides a clear focus on disease and premature death -- rather than tobacco addiction or corporate power -- and this enemy, like so many medical problems before it, will be defeated with rigorous evidence, effective medicines, and skilled treatment

Promotion of electronic cigarettes: tobacco marketing reinvented?

Electronic cigarettes are not subject to the same marketing controls as tobacco products. Marisa de Andrade, Gerard Hastings, and Kathryn Angus argue that their advertising is likely to appeal to young people and undermine tobacco control policy