Post Script: Rethinking Medications with Dr. Jerry Avorn, MD

From American Society for Pharmacy Law (ASPL)

In this special edition premiere of Post Scrip, host Henry sits down with Dr. Jerry Avorn, MD, Harvard Medical School professor and author of the groundbreaking book Rethinking Medications: Truth, Power and the Drugs You Take. Dr. Avorn, a senior internist at Mass General Brigham and author of over 600 papers, takes us on a dive into the complex world of drug approval, pricing, and pharmaceutical policy.

This episode explores how the FDA's accelerated approval pathway, originally designed for AIDS drugs, has been used in part for medications like Aduhelm, the Alzheimer's drug that didn't work, could cause brain damage, and all at a high price. The conversation delves into the erosion of randomized controlled trials, the problematic influence of user fees on FDA decision-making, and Dr. Avorn's experience as an expert witness in the landmark Vioxx litigation.

Dr. Avorn discusses the challenge of "doing your own research" when drug companies control access to study data, his work in academic detailing to compete with pharmaceutical marketing, and the "because I can" pricing strategy that drives up drug costs. He also shares insights about maintaining independence by refusing personal consulting fees from pharmaceutical companies and about his organizations that focus on unbiased drug evaluation and education.

This conversation will hopefully encourage discussion among pharmacists, attorneys, healthcare professionals, and anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping modern medicine, drug policy, and drug pricing.