Vioxx is a terrible tragedy and a profound regulatory failure. I would argue that the FDA as currently configured is incapable of protecting America against another Vioxx. We are virtually defensiveless. It is important that this committee and the important people understand that what happened with Vioxx is really a symptom of something far more dangerous to the safety of the American people. Simply put, FDA and the Center of Drug Evaluation and Research are broken.

Prescription for Disaster is an in-depth investigation into the symbiotic relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA,lobbyists, lawmakers, medical schools, and researchers, and the impact this has on consumers and their health care. During this thorough investigation, we take a close look at patented drugs, why they are so readily prescribed by doctors, the role insurance companies and HMO’s play in promoting compliance, and the problem of rising health care costs.

e examine the marketing and public relations efforts on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies, including sales reps, medical journals and conferences. Further, we look at alternatives to traditional pharmacology and drug therapy, such as vitamins and nutritional supplements, and why they are often perceived as a competitive threat to the drug manufacturers. Alternative therapies also include diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

Prescription for Disaster takes you on a journey through the tangled web of big business, the way disease is treated today, and the consequences we suffer as a society.