2009 was an incredible year for the dietary supplement industry.  While the rest of American business floundered amidst the depths of a recession, the dietary supplement business thrived.  Americans concerned about maintaining their good health stocked up on supplements by the shopping cartful. In a year when initial public offerings and acquisitions were almost unheard [...]

Two days of hearings before the FDA about search-based advertising for drugs produced one possible solution: fixed warnings for products. Google has proposed that its AdWords could include a hyperlinked line that warns consumers about the potential dangers of a drug.

ESPN Magazine devotes two well-illustrated and detailed pages on performance-enhancing drugs in a recent issue. This is a must read for every attorney who represents athletes who test positive. The article probably should not be allowed in the libraries of middle and high schools.

We are not sure of the reason, but it seems that every three months or so, a national media outlet weighs in on an old story: tainted nutritional supplements. The latest is a rehash of anecdotes with the same question: Are vitamins safe? So goes the Sept. 7 article in the Wall Street Journal headlined, “What’s Really in Supplements?”

He was a professional athlete. He was minding his own business. And he took responsibility for his problem, even if he did not think he caused it. Was he a famous Amercian baseball, football or basketball star? No, he was a Swedish soccer player — and retired.

Placebos seem to make a difference in research and clinical practice. For that reason, testimonials and open-label trial results should never be provided as sole evidence of efficacy when a product marketing campaign is challenged by a regulatory authority.