Pharmaceutical companies make their profit on drugs while the patent is still in effect. After the patent has expired and the drug can legally be duplicated as a generic, it is pretty much surplus. The only drugs they give away are the ones on which the patent has expired.

When generics become available, news stories are released to the media about the terrible effects of the original drug. Then the company comes out with something to treat the same condition which supposedly has no side effects. When the patent runs out on the new drug, the whole process starts over again.

That information is helpful though. Drug companies do some wonderful things, but giving things away is not one of them. Their profits are huge. They can make billions from a single drug. Such immense profits gives them too many incentives to withold adverse information and endanger the public health.

smile

[ February 16, 2006, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: smilinize ]