"Blood Feud" is the electrifying true tale of Big Pharma's power, regulatory weakness, and the terrifying vulnerability of millions of innocent... read full description
reviews
Jan 29, 2012
Socraticgadfly
rated it: 
Yes, the label of "Big Pharma" can be thrown around indiscriminately.
Then, a book like this suggests we need to use it even more.
There's an ugly world out there of drug company sales reps essentially bribing doctors, hospitals and clinics to use their brand of drugs. There's gimmes galore, and far beyond note pads or pens. Add in lines of credit, rebates, discounts, free initial supplies of drugs and more, and its sickening.
Then, the George Bush FDA More...
Then, a book like this suggests we need to use it even more.
There's an ugly world out there of drug company sales reps essentially bribing doctors, hospitals and clinics to use their brand of drugs. There's gimmes galore, and far beyond note pads or pens. Add in lines of credit, rebates, discounts, free initial supplies of drugs and more, and its sickening.
Then, the George Bush FDA More...
Nov 04, 2011
Ricki
rated it:
“Blood Feud” is the tragic and true story of two drug reps trying to expose the unethical and illegal practices of a pharmaceutical giant in marketing a dangerous biotech-based drug. I ordered it at the same time that I ordered Jeffrey Eugenides' new book, The Marriage Plot. Usually I race through fiction and leave nonfiction for weeks on end, reading a bit at a time. I started both books and quickly put the novel aside. That's never happened before.
At first I was a little disbelieving More...
At first I was a little disbelieving More...
Jan 24, 2012
Joan
rated it: 
My rating is a weighted rating. The author is a great story teller. The narrative was compelling. I wanted to know what happened next. (=4 stars) But...like reality television, the story is probably only coincidentally linked to the facts of the case, which if one is advertising the 'true, inside, story' isn't a good thing to do. (=1 star).
The book begins with the tragic death of a patient who had suffered from recurrent cancer. It is suggested that the patient died as a result of More...
The book begins with the tragic death of a patient who had suffered from recurrent cancer. It is suggested that the patient died as a result of More...
Nov 07, 2011
Cns
rated it:
A fantastic expose not only about the particular drug at issue--Procrit--but the world of pharmaceutical sales. The author seems like she's in a creative writing class at times--just horrible similes and metaphors--(e.g. spread like scurvy on a galleon) and everyone has a "winsome" smile. And the "hero" of the book is a pharmaceutical salesman that the author tries to redeem, but is really just a slimey drug rep. Still, a great look into what goes on in this industry.
Oct 12, 2011
Lou
rated it: 
Sharp tells the story of Mark Duxbury, employee of Johnson and Johnson. He sales a new drug called Procrit. Duxbury becomes a whistleblower when he realizes company is using biased marketing, doctors are being paid to use drug, promotions for drug are questionable and patients are dying. Book details his efforts to beat the system.
Oct 26, 2011
Laure
rated it:
Real story about a red blood cell drug and the drug rep who blew the whistle on it. Reads like a thriller and is a real eye-opener about the pharmaceutical industry and regulators who are supposed to keep dangerous drugs off the market.
Nov 13, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
This book is a biographical-like story of the sales career with and later struggles against the Johnson and Johnson company and their drug, Procrit. This is a must read for anyone who hates the pharmaceutical industry.
Dec 07, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Interesting but silly in parts. Details the drug wars between Amgen and Ortho-Biotech.
Dec 30, 2011
Sasha
rated it: 
this was way longer than it had to be to tell the story...it is an important topic though (drug reps pushing drugs)
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