Fontaine,
Under the present Tort system in this country, it would be impossible to get a representative of Genentech or any other drug company to actively participate on this website. Their liability would be enormous. Currently any nonroutine inquiry made to pharmaceutical companies takes weeks or even months as any answer must be approved by their legal departments.
An April 2002 study prepared by the White House Council of Economic Advisers determined that the U.S. has the most expensive tort system in the world, consuming 1.8% of GDP. At $636 per capita, it’s more than twice the average percentage of other industrialized nations.
Put another way, the $179 billion the nation spent in 2000 on direct costs for insurance administration, attorneys, witnesses, and awards to victims under the American tort adjudication system equals 150% of the amount Americans spent on pharmaceuticals.
Yesterday's 245 Million dollar award against Merck is just an example.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if only half of that money could be used to support medical research.
Lisa is correct, Genentech has supported this website since 2001. We receive sustaining funds through an "unrestricted educational grant". The FDA is very strict about this form of support. Genentech cannot influence how we run this website or its content in any manner in any manner. They are entirely "hands off". For a complete list of our corporate contributors, click on the "Make a donation" tag on the top right hand corner of this page.
Warmest Regards
Joe
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