Devalued and Distrusted

JOHN L. LaMATTINA, PHD, retired as president of Pfizer's Global Research and Development in 2007, where he managed more than 13,000 scientists and support professionals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Dr. LaMattina has received numerous honors and awards, including an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of New Hampshire. Currently a Senior Partner with PureTech Ventures, he is the author of Drug Truths: Dispelling the Myths About Pharma R&D (Wiley).

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ixINTRODUCTION 1CHAPTER 1 THE FOUR SECRETS THE DRUG COMPANIES DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW 4Drug Companies Underestimate Dangerous Side Effects 5Drug Companies Control Much of the Information Your Doctor Gets 10You’re Often Prescribed Drugs That You Don’t Need 14Drugs Target the Symptoms, Not the Cause 19Conclusion 22References 23CHAPTER 2 WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO R&D PRODUCTIVITY? 25Impact of Mergers on R&D Productivity 26Heightened FDA Requirements for NDAs 34Higher Hurdles Set by Payers 41Conclusion 46References 48CHAPTER 3 KEY THERAPEUTIC AREAS FOR IMPROVING HEALTH 49Cancer 51Diseases of the Brain 54Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) 60Diabetes 63Bacterial Infections 65Conclusion 68References 69CHAPTER 4 IMPROVING R&D OUTPUT 71The Views of Others 72Pharma’s Blockbuster Mentality Needs to Change 72Can “Predictive Innovation” Lead to Greater Success Rates? 76Would Royalties Make Scientists More Productive? 78Will Drug Repositioning Help Fill the R&D Pipeline? 80Consultants Don’t Always Have the Facts 82Personal Views 84Discovery Must Focus on Productivity 85Does Size Help or Hinder R&D Productivity? 87To Outsource or Not to Outsource? That’s the Pharma R&D Question 89Big Pharma Early Research Collaborations 92Conclusion 93References 95CHAPTER 5 RESTORING PHARMA’S IMAGE 96Illegal Detailing of Drugs 97Pharmaceutical Companies Should Drop TV Ads 98The Need for Greater Transparency 100How Committed Is Big Pharma to Rare Diseases? 102Pharmaceutical Companies and Philanthropy 104Pharma Needs to Have Its Scientists Tell Their Stories 105Conclusion 106References 107CHAPTER 6 FINAL THOUGHTS 109References 114INDEX 115

"Oz should invite LaMattina back on his show.  Since LaMattina treats all concerns respectfully, Oz needn’t worry about feeling devalued or distrusted."  (Barron's, 5 May 2014)“This is an honest book by an insider who believes in the basic good that the industry does.”  (The Quarterly Review of Biology, 1 September 2013)“Summing Up:  Recommended.  General audiences.”  (Choice, 1 September 2013)“For those more loosely associated or aspiring to work with in it, I particularly recommend this book as a balanced and informative read on the pressures the industry faces. It should also provide the basis for more reasoned argument and forewarn anyone else potentially ambushed by a TV show.”  (ChemMedChem, 19 July 2013)“That said, the suggestions made by LaMattina for improvements in productivity and transparency are timely, and the book makes interesting if unexciting reading.”  (Chemistry & Industry, 1 June 2013)“John LaMattina (ex-head of Pfizer's global R&D) has a new book out about the industry, called Devalued and Distrusted.  He tells Pharmalot that he got the idea to write a sequel to his earlier book, Drug Truths, when he appeared on the "Dr. Oz" show.”  (In The Pipeline, 1 December 2012)