Drug Truths: Dispelling the Myths about Pharma R & D - Paperback

by John L. Lamattina (Author)

This book answers the questions about the process and costs of pharmaceutical R & D in a compelling narrative focused on the discovery and development of important new medicines. It gives an insider's account of the pharmaceutical industry drug discovery process, the very real costs of misperceptions about the industry, the high stakes--both economic and scientific--of developing drugs, the triumphs that come when new compounds reach the market and save lives, and the despair that follows when new compounds fail. In the book, John LaMattina, former president of Pfizer Global Research and Development, weaves themes critical to a vital drug discovery environment in the context. This is a story that Dr. LaMattina is uniquely qualified to tell.

Front Jacket

An insider's perspective on the pharmaceutical industry

It's easy to hate Big Pharma. After all, they charge a lot of money for life-saving drugs. You could argue that Big Pharma's incentive to generate income is antithetical to the needs of society. But, if you set costs aside, no reasonable person could argue against the industry's accomplishments. The pharmaceutical industry has cured many infectious diseases and some cancers, delayed the onset of heart disease, enabled AIDS patients to live long and productive lives, controlled the progression of arthritis, and reduced pain.

Any thoughtful discussion on the pharmaceutical industry must be guided by the facts. Author John LaMattina, a thirty-year veteran and former president of Pfizer Global Research and Development, takes you through the realities and the myths surrounding the pharmaceutical industry, offering concrete illustrative examples. Rather than innuendo, he offers facts, answering your questions about the process and costs of pharmaceutical R&D in a compelling narrative focused on the discovery and development of new medicines.

Divided into four parts, this book dispels common misconceptions, helping you arrive at your own informed conclusions:

• Part One, A Matter of the Heart

• Part Two, The Role of Pharmaceutical R&D in Healthcare

• Part Three, The Profit Motive

• Part Four, The Future

With its emphasis on fact, John LaMattina's book is indispensable for anyone interested in understanding, advocating, or setting pharmaceutical policy, including general consumers, pharmaceutical executives, regulators, pharmaceutical researchers, and students.

This is an important and timely book.
--Dr. Richard A. Lerner, President of the Scripps Research Institute

Drug Truths is an authoritative, clear, and accessible exposition of the realities of drug discovery and development.
--Professor E.J. Corey, Nobel Laureate, Harvard University

Back Jacket

An insider's perspective on the pharmaceutical industry

It's easy to hate Big Pharma. After all, they charge a lot of money for life-saving drugs. You could argue that Big Pharma's incentive to generate income is antithetical to the needs of society. But, if you set costs aside, no reasonable person could argue against the industry's accomplishments. The pharmaceutical industry has cured many infectious diseases and some cancers, delayed the onset of heart disease, enabled AIDS patients to live long and productive lives, controlled the progression of arthritis, and reduced pain.

Any thoughtful discussion on the pharmaceutical industry must be guided by the facts. Author John LaMattina, a thirty-year veteran and former president of Pfizer Global Research and Development, takes you through the realities and the myths surrounding the pharmaceutical industry, offering concrete illustrative examples. Rather than innuendo, he offers facts, answering your questions about the process and costs of pharmaceutical R&D in a compelling narrative focused on the discovery and development of new medicines.

Divided into four parts, this book dispels common misconceptions, helping you arrive at your own informed conclusions:

• Part One, A Matter of the Heart

• Part Two, The Role of Pharmaceutical R&D in Healthcare

• Part Three, The Profit Motive

• Part Four, The Future

With its emphasis on fact, John LaMattina's book is indispensable for anyone interested in understanding, advocating, or setting pharmaceutical policy, including general consumers, pharmaceutical executives, regulators, pharmaceutical researchers, and students.

"This is an important and timely book."
--Dr. Richard A. Lerner, President of the Scripps Research Institute

"Drug Truths is an authoritative, clear, and accessible exposition of the realities of drug discovery and development."
--Professor E.J. Corey, Nobel Laureate, Harvard University

Author Biography

John L. LaMattina, PhD, retired as president of Pfizer Global Research and Development in 2007 where he managed more than 13,000 scientists and support professionals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Dr. LaMattina has received numerous awards including an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire.