Comments on: “No Pharma Company Wants to See You Getting Better!” http://www.testmarket.eu/2008/08/no-pharma-company-wants-to-see-you-getting-better/ Estonian start-up stories by Toivo Tänavsuu Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:47:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Dr. Donald Simmons http://www.testmarket.eu/2008/08/no-pharma-company-wants-to-see-you-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Dr. Donald Simmons Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:32:38 +0000 http://www.tigerprises.com/?p=32#comment-126 Mr. Tanavsuu: The article did not come across to me as "fun." And as someone close to the pharmaceutical industry, I would not fully agree with your assumptions about the industry. Yes, it's a profit-driven industry. Is there a business which isn't? Is there some over-arching conspiracy to keep patients ill? (Given the pill-loving culture and the tendency to over-prescribe to stave off lawsuits in the United States, I can assure you no conspiracy is needed.) My MD and scientist friends in the industry, I can assure you, are not part of any such plot. Many of them also research the "less profitable" diseases, as they were characterized in the article. As for the "fun," I still don't see it. Don Simmons Mr. Tanavsuu:
The article did not come across to me as “fun.” And as someone close to the pharmaceutical industry, I would not fully agree with your assumptions about the industry. Yes, it’s a profit-driven industry. Is there a business which isn’t?
Is there some over-arching conspiracy to keep patients ill? (Given the pill-loving culture and the tendency to over-prescribe to stave off lawsuits in the United States, I can assure you no conspiracy is needed.) My MD and scientist friends in the industry, I can assure you, are not part of any such plot. Many of them also research the “less profitable” diseases, as they were characterized in the article.
As for the “fun,” I still don’t see it.
Don Simmons

]]> By: Toivo http://www.testmarket.eu/2008/08/no-pharma-company-wants-to-see-you-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Toivo Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:53:06 +0000 http://www.tigerprises.com/?p=32#comment-125 Dear Mr Simmons, What I want to underline is: the story is more fun, than serious. Of course Mr Kask is overreacting and oversimplifying things. And he definately isn't the best ambassador for Estonia here. But he doesn't speak for Estonia, he speaks for his business, that has HQ in California. And I'm sure You agree with me, he raised some good points when speaking about the ethics behind pharma industry. Toivo Tänavsuu Dear Mr Simmons,
What I want to underline is: the story is more fun, than serious.
Of course Mr Kask is overreacting and oversimplifying things. And he definately isn’t the best ambassador for Estonia here. But he doesn’t speak for Estonia, he speaks for his business, that has HQ in California.

And I’m sure You agree with me, he raised some good points when speaking about the ethics behind pharma industry.

Toivo Tänavsuu

]]> By: Dr. Donald Simmons http://www.testmarket.eu/2008/08/no-pharma-company-wants-to-see-you-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Dr. Donald Simmons Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:52:46 +0000 http://www.tigerprises.com/?p=32#comment-124 This article is simply irresponsible. First, it doesn't seem EGeen is involved in pharmaceutical research. Rather, they supply guinea pigs to research companies. Why would he prefer to not do this business in the US? Because the rights of those guinea pigs have been heavily regulated (which has been covered extensively in the western press). Second, to seemingly allow Kask to speak for the entire industry is a farce. His understanding of it is oversimplified and naive. Why would a well-read journalist let him get away with such sweeping, ridiculous answers? Has the journalist not interviewed the doctors and scientists involved in this business? Third, the tone of Kask's remarks are scary. What kind of ambassador do you think he makes for your country? This article is simply irresponsible.

First, it doesn’t seem EGeen is involved in pharmaceutical research. Rather, they supply guinea pigs to research companies. Why would he prefer to not do this business in the US? Because the rights of those guinea pigs have been heavily regulated (which has been covered extensively in the western press).

Second, to seemingly allow Kask to speak for the entire industry is a farce. His understanding of it is oversimplified and naive. Why would a well-read journalist let him get away with such sweeping, ridiculous answers? Has the journalist not interviewed the doctors and scientists involved in this business?

Third, the tone of Kask’s remarks are scary. What kind of ambassador do you think he makes for your country?

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