links for 2010-02-17

ABSTRACT
This paper replicates DiMasi et al. (J. Health Econ. 2003; 22: 151-185; Drug Inf. J. 2004; 38: 211-223) estimates of expenditure on new drug development using publicly available data. The paper estimates that average expenditure on drugs in human clinical trials is around $27m per year, with $17m per year on drugs in Phase I, $34m on drugs in Phase II and $27m per year on drugs in Phase III of the human clinical trials. The paper’s estimated expenditure on new drug development is somewhat greater than suggested by the survey results presented in DiMasi et al. (J. Health Econ. 2003; 22: 151-185; Drug Inf. J. 2004; 38: 211-223). [...]

(UK) The Government’s medicines watchdog want to put their comprehensive and up to date medicine information online. Is this a good idea? How would you use it?