Psychologists OK Anti-Torture Policy
The American Psychological Association's membership has approved a resolution to prohibit psychologists from participating in interrogations. Once the policy becomes official at the APA's next annual meeting in August 2009, members will be restricted to working directly for detainees, for an independent third party to protect human rights, or to provide treatment to military personnel. The resolution was approved by 8,792 members; 6,157 voted against the measure. The American Civil Liberties Union and many psychologists had sought such a resolution for years. At the association's 2007 annual meeting, its membership adopted a weaker resolution that called on the U.S. government to ban 19 specific interrogation techniques. But it did not bar participation in those interrogations by psychologists.
Teva Loses Risperidone Exclusivity
Earlier this year, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries became the first company to sell generic risperidone, leading it to revise its sales and earnings estimates greatly upwards. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has vacated an April 2008 ruling that granted the company 6 months of marketing exclusivity for the generic, paving the way for other generic companies to release their versions. Mylan Inc., Par Pharmaceutical, Roxane, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Apotex Inc., and Pliva all have received tentative approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a generic formulation. Teva said it was seeking a stay of the decision, pending further appeals. The branded formation, Risperdal, had sales of just over $2 billion in 2007.
Media Influences Tobacco Use
Media communications–including movies, advertising, and news–play a key role in shaping tobacco use, according to a lengthy report from the National Cancer Institute. The report noted that cigarettes are among the most heavily marketed products in the United States, and that most of the cigarette industry's marketing budget is allocated to promotional activities, especially for price discounts, which accounted for 75% of the industry's $10 billion in total marketing expenditures in 2005. Depictions of cigarette smoking are pervasive in movies; they occur in three-quarters or more of contemporary box office hits, the NCI report said, adding that the weight of evidence indicates a causal relationship between exposure to depictions of smoking in movies and youth smoking initiation. The report provides the government's strongest conclusion to date on the media's powerful and causal effect on tobacco use, Dr. Cheryl Healton, president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation, said in a statement.
Tobacco Control Support Drops
Budgets for tobacco control programs in most states are either staying level or declining despite increases in payments from the 1997 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which was designed to compensate states for some of the cost of smoking-related illnesses, the American Lung Association reported. The passage of smoke-free air laws also has slowed down in most states, the ALA found. Only two states this year–Iowa and Nebraska–have approved legislation to strengthen existing laws. Activity on cigarette tax increases in 2008 also has been slower than in previous years, with only two states and the District of Columbia approving increases, according to the report. New York's increase in the cigarette tax is the highest, at $1.25 a pack, the ALA said.
CSPI Tries to Dampen Sparks
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has sued MillerCoors LLC to have its Sparks caffeinated alcoholic beverage taken off the market. In a suit filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, the group said that at 6%-7% alcohol by volume, Sparks has more alcohol than beer (generally 4%-5% by volume) and that it contains unapproved additives such as caffeine and guarana, all wrapped in a sweet citrusy flavor that appeals to young people. “MillerCoors is trying to hook teens and tweens on a dangerous drink,” CSPI litigation director Steve Gardner in a statement. CSPI has won this battle before. In June, the group and 11 state attorneys general got Anheuser-Busch to agree to remove caffeine and other unapproved additives from its alcoholic energy drinks.
Pfizer Touts Its Drug Safety Site
Pfizer has launched a drug safety Web site for patients and physicians that is accessible through the company's home page,
Grants to MDs in Hurricanes
The American Medical Association Foundation's Health Care Recovery Fund will provide grants of up to $2,500 to physicians in places that have been declared disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the foundation currently is accepting donations to help physicians who have been directly affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which hit parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The foundation provides the grants to physicians in FEMA-declared disaster areas to help them rebuild or restore medical practices in those locations, according to the AMA.