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If Only They Could Bottle It
Although fertility depends on more than simply setting the mood, Barry White has made noteworthy contributions in the latter arena. It seems men, women, and fish can’t get enough of his sexy beat. According to a recent study from Harvard’s Rowland Institute in Cambridge, MA, carp discriminate between the blues and classical recordings. This discovery led scientists at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre in the U.K. to experiment with music and mating among their nurse shark population, a species reluctant to reproduce in captivity. The center hoped that Barry White could do for fish what he has done for countless human couples. White’s hits were piped into the tanks—“You’re the First, the Last, My Every-fin”—and scientists crossed their fingers. Surprisingly, one of the female sharks appeared pregnant.

Encouraged by these results, Underwater Adventures Aquarium at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN, attempted to coax a pair of sawfish into mating to the sounds of the Sultan of Soul earlier this year. The aquarium provided a disco ball for added ambiance. Sawfish are critically endangered and have never produced offspring in captivity.
—Olympia Kyriakides

No Longer #1
The economy is not the only thing struggling in this country as innovation has hit rock bottom. A study released in February by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a nonpartisan Washington think tank, ranks the United States sixth overall in innovation and competitiveness, but last among 40 nations and regions in progress made over the past decade.

For many years, the U.S. led the world in medical innovation and scientific discovery, but recent studies show our dominance slipping. The nonpartisan,
nongovernmental Council on Competitiveness, based in Washington, reports the U.S. decline in the past 25 years:

• from 46% to 37% of global R&D investments
• from 54% to 52% of global patents
• from 38% to 30% of scientific publications worldwide
• from 41% to 29% of scientific researchers worldwide

The council’s 2007 report also cites the falloff during that same period in students pursuing science and engineering degrees in the U.S.:

• bachelor’s degrees in those areas decreased 10%
• doctorates in those areas decreased 30%

In March, a coalition of leaders in research, medicine, patient advocacy, academia, education, labor, and business formed the Council for American Medical Innovation to address those declines by advocating new national policies to encourage medical innovation and discoveries in the life sciences. “American leadership in medical innovation must be part of our economic recovery plan,” said former Representative Dick Gephardt, one of the new council’s founding members. “The future belongs to those who can create and sustain innovation economies. We must put policies in place that nurture medical innovation, protect America’s ability to maintain its global leadership position, and help us find cures.” The council plans to help achieve a national healthcare policy attracting companies, jobs, and researchers willing to take risks; supporting research and development projects; and encouraging students to pursue science, mathematics, and engineering. For more information on the Council for American Medical Innovation, visit www.americanmedicalinnovation.org.
—Andrew Matthius

High-Cost Drugs Abandoned at Growing Rate
An increasing number of retail prescription patients are walking away from the counter when confronted by rising co-pays at their pharmacies. According to Pharma Insight, Wolters Kluwer Health’s 2008 annual analysis of the U.S. pharmaceutical market, prescription abandonment has jumped 34% since 2006. (Abandonment is defined as occurring when a patient submits a prescription to a pharmacy but never picks it up.) The rate of abandonment increased with the amount of the co-pay, especially for new prescriptions. Thus over 20% of new prescriptions with co-pays of $100 or more were abandoned, compared to only 4% for co-pays of $10 or less. “Price sensitivity is clearly a factor as consumers decide to forgo certain prescriptions altogether, including some for chronic conditions,” said CEO Mark Spiers. “This disturbing trend may have serious health implications and seems poised to continue especially if the economy deteriorates further.”

Cost-conscious patients are also moving to generics in increasing numbers.
The analysis shows that over 60% of all prescriptions filled in 2008 were generics. And generics led brands by 1 billion prescriptions, with 2.4 billion generic prescriptions filled last year versus 1.4 billion brand-name. Generics reached parity with branded drugs in 2005 and have built momentum each year thereafter. “We’re close to the point, certainly by the end of the year, when 2-out-of-every-3 prescriptions filled will be generic,” continued Spiers. “These trends are going to become even more pronounced moving forward, as many blockbusters in major therapeutic areas like cholesterol reducers are due to come off patent in the coming three years, the volume of available generics is increasing, and very few new ‘blockbuster’ drugs are in the pipeline.” Spiers noted that many other factors contribute to generics’ steady growth, including patient education, marketing campaigns, and the economy.
—Bruce Lacey

Did You Know...Top 10 Patient Groups Online
Last year for the first time, the Internet surpassed doctors as the top source
of health information for adults in the U.S., according to Manhattan Research,
a New York-based healthcare market research firm. More than 60% of adults go online to learn about diseases and treatments, visiting everything from healthcare websites and blogs to online patient communities. People with certain conditions are most likely to consult the Internet. Last month, Manhattan Research released its Digital DTC Relevance Rankings with the top 10 condition groups going online for information.

1. Acne
2. ADHD
3. Fibromyalgia
4. Migraine
5. Allergies
6. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
7. Anxiety Disorder
8. Asthma
9. Restless Leg Syndrome
10. Cancer

Source: Cybercitizen Health (2008), Manhattan Research