Drugs for pre-osteoporosis: prevention or disease mongering?

My clinical colleagues have dealt adequately in their reply with the
only alleged inaccuracy in our article, which we respectfully suggest is
not an inaccuracy at all.

As a writer, rather than a clinician, I would ask that in the
interests of a more informed public debate about fractures, Professors
Compston, Seeman and Delmas might use their no doubt considerable
influence with the dozen or so drug companies to which they have
collectively declared competing interests, and request that all internal
documents, both contemporary and historical, relating to the marketing of
all osteoporosis drugs be made publicly available.

Obviously certain commercial-in-confidence material would
appropriately need to be removed before such documents were released
publicly. However, it is possible that such marketing documents would
include accounts of how those companies work with what they call “key
opinion leaders”, to try and inform public and clinical opinions towards
their products, and the relevant disease states.

I look forward to hearing of the outcome, if any such request is put
to any of the relevant pharmaceutical companies.

Competing interests:
None declared