SUMMARY

You can't go to a pharma industry conference these days without hearing at least one expert speaker recommending that pharma executives read the book "The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to do About It," written by Marcia Angell, MD, former editor in chief of The New England Journal of Medicine. It's not often that you see pro-industry pundits recommend a book that "tears pharma a new one," as some would say.

Richard Vanderveer, Chairman & CEO, V2 GfK and an advisory board member of this newsletter said "This book has a lot of buzz going for it. Industry executives should read it defensively and be ready to answer questions at cocktail parties. I am a firm believer in counteracting bad press."

This review includes several point-counter point views regarding Angell's arguments by pharmaceutical and healthcare experts, including members of the PHARMA-MKTING online discussion group.

The article includes the following sections:

• Kudos from Pundits
• What Are Her Points?
• Research vs. Marketing
• Education vs. Marketing
• Tough Years Ahead?