August 2009 Archives

Whether you believe that the dramatic town hall meetings about healthcare reform are reflective of a genuine debate or merely political stagecraft, it's hard to deny that they demonstrate the power of face-to-face contact. Sure, the opposing factions are also focusing their energy on fighting this battle with a series of cutting, 140-character Twitter posts and launching broadside via blogs (in addition to the usual non-stop chatter on cable-news shows) but those efforts don't have the resonance of those in-person shouting matches carry.

But just as conflict can be more powerful when it's face-to-face, building bridges is easier when we get out from behind our computers.

We are entering the era of the e-patient, when support groups and advocacy organizations have moved online. Now, it takes neither money nor connections to tell your story. Increasingly, those of us who work with pharmaceutical companies are looking for ways to ensure that we are hearing all of the richness of that online storytelling. Yet listening from behind a computer monitor only gets you so far. Earlier this year, at a medical meeting, I worked to gather a bunch of "virtual" friends--patients, media, advocates, industry, most of whom I had never met--together in the real, physical world.

What emerged was a profound set of connections that gave a deeper sense of the individuals telling the stories. No one solved the pressing issue of the day, no grand plans were hatched, but I had a much better sense of where everyone was coming from: what motivated them to be on the web in the first place and what they hoped to accomplish via social media. In short, it was a humanizing evening.

Making sure that we don't lose that human touch in the era of the online avatar is the fundamental challenge for those of us who think and write and talk about the pharmaceutical industry. There is now more information than ever for us to keep track on. More forums, more tweets, more bloggers, more Facebook, more everything. Yet if companies such as GSK want to keep fully engaged in the world of patients, physicians and others, they can't let shiny technologies completely displace face-to-face interaction.

Getting people together in the real world doesn't guarantee a meeting of the minds (after all, the town hall meetings have done more to muddy the debate than advance it), but it does raise the odds that ideas will be transmitted fully and accurately. And in an era of information, there is nothing more powerful.

When Andrew Witty became CEO at GSK there was a burning question on all employees minds: would he honor the tradition created by his predecessor, JP Garnier? 

You see at the end of every year, Garnier would reward employees with an extra day off for a job well done, and it became known as "JP Day."  So when Witty gave his first employee broadcast, there was a collective intake of breath when he announced that he wasn't going to honor JP Day. 

Instead he was creating Orange Day.  Though not an extra vacation day, employees could take an extra day off each year to volunteer in their communities.  The employee outcry could be heard around the globe--but it was a cry of unanimous support!  GSK employees have embraced Orange Day with amazing gusto.  A recent post highlighted the Orange Day initiative for the Philadelphia Communications team at GSK.  Recently, GSK set out to make an impact in Alabama, as a group of our sales professionals helped put smiles on the faces of children with cancer. 

Located in Alexander City, AL, Camp Smile-A-Mile is a non-profit organization that provides year-round activities for kids with cancer--or those who've survived it--as well as their families.  And while it relies on the kindness of volunteers, when Executive Director Lynn Thompson told her staff that about 100 people were coming to help out from GSK, the staff didn't believe her.  This was the biggest volunteer organization that the camp had ever had.  "The manpower that GSK was able to provide, it was like a dream come true," said Thompson.  "This was the biggest volunteer organization that we've ever had. It exceeded my expectations by 1,000 percent."

The GSK team felt Camp Smile-A-Mile was worth the visit.  "Whenever you're dealing with people who have unfortunate situations, it's humbling--and makes you feel proud to be part of an organization that can give back in some form or fashion," said Jim, a GSK sales manager and volunteer."

GSK volunteers did everything: planted flowers, washed equipment, constructed picnic tables and benches, repaired bicycles, and painted.

"I had never done any kind of woodworking, and that was one of the reasons that I chose it," said a GSK volunteer. "At one point I looked like a giant ball of sawdust. I was covered from head to toe, but it was all worth it."

GSK staffers assembled spa kits for female campers, complete with bath sponges, lotion, fingernail polish, soap and shampoo samples, and provided sleeping bags for male campers. They also helped with landscaping.

"It's hard to measure what GSK employees did for the camp," Thompson said, adding she "couldn't put a dollar figure on it."

GSK employees said they got much more than they gave.

I have hit some serious milestones in my life, including my first grand slam win in 1979, but turning the big 5-0 this year was one that caught even a guy like me by surprise.  I have always prided myself on being active and keeping in peak physical condition, so I knew moving into this next chapter of my life, I would need to be as dedicated to my health as I am to my tennis game.

I knew, in particular at this age, my prostate health would be a concern, as my dad was diagnosed with (and beat) prostate cancer in 2006.  This was a big wake up call for me and really surprised me about the prevalence of this disease.  Did you know one in six men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime?  I sure didn't.

I was shocked (yes, even me) when I learned the updated American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines have lowered the age (from 50 to 40) for when a man should start being monitored for prostate cancer, which includes talking to a doctor about the prostate-specific antigen test (PSA), a simple blood test.  While I haven't suffered any prostate-related issues, it was hard for me to believe that my father could be felled by some kind of illness, and I want to spread the awareness about prostate cancer and let men know they really need to talk to their doctors beginning at age 40.    

To get this message out, today I have joined forces with GlaxoSmithKline, as well as Stand Up to Cancer, the American Urological Association, Men's Health Network, Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Prostate Conditions Education Council.  You can see me in this public service announcement in magazines this fall and even on the side of Madison Square Garden on your way to this year's US Open in Queens, NY or visit www.prostatecancerwatch.com for more information.

This is one issue where all men must be serious.

GlaxoSmithKline funded and helped develop this campaign, including providing compensation to Mr. McEnroe.

Up to half of the population of the U.S.could come down with the swine flu and 90,000 could die this season, according to a report from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

"It's a plausible scenario that we need to be prepared for," said Marty Cetron, the Center for Disease Control's director of the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. 

It's time to prepare, not be complacent, according to Secretary Sebelius.

Our hometown Phillies happen to be on a major tear these days, hitting their stride right as we enter the critical run-up to October.  When things go well, they go very well indeed as with yesterday's amazing triple-play by second baseman Eric Bruntlett.

Leading the hated NY Mets 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Bruntlett made a triple play to end the game ...by...him...self.

This is only the second time a major leaguer has made this play unassisted.

Bruntlett's historic play provides us an opportunity to shamelessly plug another triple play, but one that can't be pulled off single-handedly.

This one is about healthcare (natch) and it is the triple play we believe must serve as the fundamental basis for any changes we make to the current health system in our county.

Our triple play--a triple solution, really--rests on healthcare reform that focuses on the PREVENTION of chronic diseases that come with such extraordinary costs; enhances and broadens ACCESS to treatments for the right patients at the right time; and ensures continued investment in INNOVATION so that our country continues to provide cutting edge treatment and care.

That is a gameplan where everyone will win.

Last week we lamented a study suggesting Southerners have too many pill bottles in their medicine chests.  From personal experience, one reason, we ventured, might have something to do with the mouth-watering sugar and fat-laden regional fare.  Market research at a major fast-food company must be showing sustained popularity for that diet with the rollout of a new sandwich that would make a cardiologist shudder.  I wonder if Joey Chestnut could tackle 60 or more of these babies.

showed 57% of consumers surveyed suffering from cancer said DTC helped them have better discussions with their doctor. They also found 62% said they became aware of treatment options from DTC

However...

The study did caution that some consumers (11%) were less confident of their doctor's judgment after seeing DTC. They concluded that DTC "was found to be accessible and useful." The frequent concern that critics have that DTC changes doctor behavior was not found to be a problem. Only 17% of those surveyed talked to their doctor about a specific medication. Only 3% received a medication they requested.

Bob continues:

This study is similar to most DTC studies in that DTC is seen as a net positive. It does not lead to mass mis-prescribing behavior. Patients like it because they learn new things from DTC. They feel more prepared to discuss their treatment with their doctor. I would venture to say therefore that Henry Waxman has little to fear from DTC. Patients are not hoping he and other legislators protect them from DTC...

....Americans are skeptical of all advertising and they approach DTC with caution. DTC gives them a basis of discussion with their doctors. That is better than total ignorance. Informed consumers who see a DTC ad for their condition will likely then go to the Internet to follow-up. Using a search engine they see fuller pros and cons of the drug mentioned. DTC serves as a stimulus for further investigation.

He concludes, calling for a kind of "Public Option for Drug Information," saying he hopes "Congressional critics can ultimately agree that more information is better."  We agree. 

There's been a lot of back and forth in the media about the pharmaceutical industry, including GSK, and the role of "ghostwriters" in preparing articles for peer-reviewed scientific journals. You should know where GSK stands.

It's the time of year that healthcare providers should be asking if you intend to get a flu shot to protect yourself from seasonal flu.  This year, you might consider posing the same question to them. 

Amazingly, the CDC reports that just 42% of healthcare workers nationwide get a flu shot.  In some places, fewer than a quarter of workers in a hospital or physician office are getting vaccinated.  That means not only are they leaving themselves unprotected from flu, but they may also be a potential source of flu infection for patients. 

As a true Southerner who cannot give up sweetened ice tea and fried food, I am saddened but not surprised to see the report today that the American South is the most medicated region of the United States. 

Our prescription drug-use rate--led by West Virginia with an amazing 17.7 prescriptions per capita--is well above the national average according to a story in Forbes magazine. The cause? Chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity and diabetes.  Almost 70% of the folks in West Viriginia were obese.

Why don't we change? Habits die hard and lifestyle changes take effort. This region should be ripe for change with good weather to exercise outdoors and the easy availability of fresh fruits and vegetables.

These statistics are enough to scare anyone.  Maybe it's time to pick up new food habits: flavored water and grilled chicken. I'm still working on the recipe for baked hushpuppies.

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Roche and GSK just introduced The Bone Healthy Workout to help women with postmenopausal osteoporosis or at risk for osteoporosis build and maintain stronger bones.   It's a series of customized exercises designed to help improve strength, coordination, flexibility and balance.  Check out The Bone Healthy Workout, which includes a video and a print version with detailed instructions on each exercise, on www.bonehealth.com 

Why the focus on bone health?  Osteoporosis, meaning "porous bones," is a disease in which bones become thinner and weaker and more likely to break (speaking of which, osteoporosis causes more than 1.5 million fractures each year).  Women are especially prone to bone loss and osteoporosis later in life. In fact, in the first five to seven years following menopause, women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass. Not to mention the economic toll: osteoporosis costs the US about $18 million each year in medical costs.

Why the focus on fitness?  Physical activity, along with calcium and vitamin D, may help bone health and lower the risk for fractures by maintaining muscle strength, coordination, and balance.  Bottom line, exercise proves once again a powerful tool in the fight for good health. 

The H1N1 virus has gotten lots of media attention, forced governments and companies to launch (or in some cases initiate) their flu pandemic preparedness plans, and, now, inspired a video game.

In an effort to further raise awareness of the complexity of combating a global outbreak, Dutch researchers have created a game that challenges players to control a new pandemic.  The graphics are a bit, er, retro, but the premise is an interesting one.

Try your luck and see if you have what it takes to control a pandemic!

I was very encouraged by news this week that the FDA has issued final rules which will help make investigational drugs more widely available to patients and also helps clarify the procedure for access.  While it is heartening to see the FDA continually update and expand its position on providing important medicines for people with life threatening diseases, it also speaks to me on a very personal level.

My dad has a terminal lung disease called Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).  It hardens or scars the tissue in his lungs and makes it very difficult to breath.  He uses oxygen and takes an oral steroid every day for the inflammation in his lungs.  The biggest heartbreak has been watching a once very active man reduced to brief forays into his beloved garden which last only moments before he is exhausted, running out of breath and reduced to racking coughs.  He's always tethered to his oxygen now and he spends most of his time sitting in his recliner watching news or sports or maybe reading a book.  Playing weekly tennis and golf are only distant memories, but he still devours them on TV.  And while I know that my weekly visits are good medicine for his heart, there is no approved medicine for his disease. 

However, there are ongoing clinical trials investigating treatments for IPF, and as a family, we discussed and considered the possibility of my dad entering a trial, but we learned he would have to stop taking his steroid...and for us the risk of him getting a placebo was just too high.  Now that the FDA has expanded the opportunity, we may be able to get my dad experimental medicine outside of a trial...and I will make sure to explore all of his options to the fullest. The new FDA website for consumers is very helpful for patients and patient advocates, guiding them through the process and offering considerations for pursuing an investigational treatment.    

While there are still many hurdles for people like my dad--people with chronic, life-threatening diseases--to actually get investigational medicines outside of a clinical trial, these steps by the FDA make it a little bit easier and I'm grateful for the progress. 

In July, our CEO, Andrew Witty, traveled to some of the poorest towns in Kenya to observe three GSK programs: Positive Action, PHASE (Personal Hygiene And Sanitation Education), and the Kambawa site for our malaria vaccine clinical trial.

The GSK-supported Zingatia Maisha project of Positive Action is geared toward improving HIV/AIDs patient care through increased access to anti-retroviral treatments and enhanced patient care and clinical practice.  GSK developed PHASE as a straightforward educational campaign to increase awareness of critical personal hygiene and sanitation issues, and improve simple practices such as rigorous hand-washing that can make a huge difference in limiting disease.

As with so many educational and access programs we support, GSK works closely on these initiatives with an important partner: AMREF, the leading health development organization in Africa.

Read more about Andrew's trip in the Guardian.

Check out the video of Andrew in Africa.

(Photo courtesy of the Guardian.)

Jeff Jarvis, author, journalism professor, and blogger, revealed that he has prostate cancer. He's already chronicled his treatment for heart arrhythmia, so we may get to see his unique take on his cancer treatment as well. 

Apparently he was on Don Imus' radio show recently talking about his cancer.  On his blog he joked that "one of the worst parts of getting prostate cancer is that I share an ailment with Don Imus when I'm a Stern fan." 

He then mentions that Imus is treating his prostate cancer with peppers.  "If Imus is seriously--and so publicly--spreading the notion that eating peppers will cure him," he wrote, "I fear it could jeopardize people who think that they can avoid diagnosis and treatment for a deadly--but curable--disease." 

Well said, Jeff.  Best of luck.  We'll be reading.

(Photo courtesy of US FWS)

The U.S. House of Representatives recessed last Friday for the month of August and the U.S. Senate plans to recess this Friday. Prior to their departure, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a health care reform plan that has raised concerns among many Americans. 

A USA Today/Gallup poll shows that only 26% of Americans believe health care reform will improve their personal medical care and only 21% believe it will expand their access to health care.  That's unfortunate when the purpose of health care reform, which GSK supports, is to increase access to better health care for Americans while lowering the costs.  The poll showed that only 18% of Americans believe a new health care reform law would reduce their personal costs.  Clearly, many Americans aren't happy with their first glimpse of where Congress is leading health reform.

While a House committee hustled to approve a health reform plan before the August recess, the Senate has moved much slower and does not plan to release any of the details of their negotiations.  Whether you agree with the House's eagerness to show America that progress is being made or you think the Senate is taking the right approach by moving slowly and more methodically, everyone agrees that something must be done to improve our country's health care system.  It is expected that Members of Congress will hear a lot about health reform from their constituents over the August break.  Let's hope they come back to Washington in September ready to debate and ultimately pass a reform bill that increases access, lowers costs, and promotes innovation.

A recent Harris Poll of 1000+ adults showed that scientists and doctors ranked alongside firefighters as the occupations most respected by the American public.  It seems to me this is good news that demonstrates our country has its head on right.  (Ironically, despite the 24-7 barrage of celebrity info - we'll, actually, maybe because of it -- the numbers were not as promising for actors with only 15% of respondents affixing prestige to that job.)

These results brought to mind a Health Care Blog post I'd seen sometime back.  The post, "Innovation + Economics: Keys To Successful Health Care Reform," by Dr. Albert Waxman, makes the point that increased investment in healthcare technology is essential to seizing an opportunity to create a "new healthcare economy."

Dr. Waxman, who in addition to running a venture capital fund also serves as New Mexico's Healthcare Commissioner, bemoans the lack of investment in healthcare innovation: