[extropy-chat] Allowing drug companies to market enhancements

[Matus]

Whats this, a member of the extropian list proposing doing something?
Mike Lorrey, did you catch this?  Samantha, of course most of us would
like to see the government get their noses out of the pharmaceutical
business, but as a practical step toward an improvement, it seems like a
good goal.  

Joe, I would definitely support it, but I have no idea how to go about
doing such a thing.  I am currently employed at Pfizer's central
research headquarters and personally know some directors and sr.
directors who might be able to suggest a course of action, I'll drop
them an email.  Keep me posted on your efforts.

Michael Dickey

> -----Original Message-----
> From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org [mailto:extropy-chat-
> bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Samantha Atkins
> Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 12:01 AM
> To: ExI chat list
> Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] Allowing drug companies to market
enhancements
> 
> i would support getting the government out of this business
altogether.
>   Private underwriters should be able to address the safety concerns.
> 
> - samantha
> 
> On Mar 27, 2005, at 6:45 PM, Joseph Bloch wrote:
> 
> > Apologies for cross-posting...
> >
> > Currently, the FDA forbids drug manufacturers from touting the
> > potential "non-medical" (i.e., enhancement-related) benefits of
their
> > products. This results in there being little incentive for
> > pharmaceutical companies to run clinical trials of
enhancement-related
> > effects of drugs, which in turn is potentially dangerous since
people
> > seeking enhancement effects have no clear guidelines in terms of
> > dosages, etc.
> >
> > Right now, if a company comes up with an Alzheimers' drug that also
> > helps memory in healthy people, that second effect can't be
> > advertised, and won't be fully investigated by the company because
of
> > it.
> >
> > I'm kicking around an idea to set up an effort to lobby the FDA to
> > change this pratice, allowing pharmaceutical companies to market
their
> > products for non-medical uses. In essence, that same drug company
> > could advertise its new drug as being effective for memory
> > enhancement, assuming it went through clinical trials equivalent to
> > those necessary to prove its effectiveness in treating disease.
> >
> > I'm not advocating cutting any safety corners; exactly the opposite.
> > Just give drug companies the opportunity to market their products
for
> > uses other than merely treating disease; force them to perform
> > rigorous clinical trials, but let them publish guidelines for safe
> > use. Let them help us be "better than well".
> >
> > My question is, would you support such an effort? Any ideas as to
how
> > to go about it most effectively?
> >
> > Joseph
> >
> > Enhance your body "beyond well" and your mind "beyond normal":
> > http://www.humanenhancement.com
> > New Jersey Transhumanist Association:
http://www.goldenfuture.net/njta
> > PostHumanity Rising: http://transhumanist.blogspot.com/
> > _______________________________________________
> > extropy-chat mailing list
> > extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
> > http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo/extropy-chat
> 
> _______________________________________________
> extropy-chat mailing list
> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
> http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo/extropy-chat