Secondary Symptoms #6: Pandemic Fat Cats
Summary: There’s another coronavirus. This one, causing horrific swelling in cats, even killing them. Gilead Pharmacueticals might have a drug that can cure this feline coronavirus. Yet, they’re not sharing that drug, possibly because they’re scared it might harm their chances with another drug: Remdesivir. You may have heard of it; it’s the supposed ‘gold standard’ of care for COVID-19. The story of Remdesivir (and of the black market cat drug sibling) reveals how pharmaceutical companies do their research, and the lengths they go to protect their profits.<br> On this episode of Secondary Symptoms, Gordon interviews Atlantic writer <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahzhang?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Sarah Zhang</a> about her article on the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/remdesivir-cats/611341/">strange story of feline coronavirus and its possible black market cure</a>, GS-441524. Then, investigative journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/fastlerner?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Sharon Lerner</a> of the Intercept tells us <a href="https://theintercept.com/2020/05/26/coronavirus-gileand-remdesivir-treatment/">about her reporting on GS-441524’s sibling, Remdesivir</a>–no black market necessary. Also on the program, <a href="https://twitter.com/shannonbrownlee?lang=en">Shannon Brownlee</a> of the Lown Institute, on how to make sense of drug research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, Professor <a href="https://twitter.com/ghostmanagedmed?lang=en">Sergio Sismondo</a> talks about his book <a href="https://www.matteringpress.org/books/ghost-managed-medicine">Ghost-Managed Medicine</a>, which pulls back the curtain on medical ghostwriting and the other invisible ways that the industry shapes pharmaceutical knowledge.<br> ———-MORE———-<br> This episode is meant to accompany a wider series that we are doing this season about COVID-19 and the pharmaceutical industry. If you are interested in this episode of Secondary Symptoms, you would certainly be interested in a recent Cited documentary: <a href="https://www.citedpodcast.com/podcast/the-tamiflu-trials/">the Tamiflu Trials</a>. You can find it in this feed. <br> You can also find related articles on our website, <a href="https://www.citedpodcast.com/">citedpodcast.com</a>. Including articles by our research assistant, <a href="https://twitter.com/franklynnb?lang=en">Franklynn Bartol</a>, on topics like: industry funding of <a href="https://www.citedpodcast.com/beyond-the-science-big-pharmas-influence-on-healthcare-providers-and-patients/">patient advocacy groups</a>, the meaning (and limitations) of ‘<a href="https://www.citedpodcast.com/debating-the-evidence/">evidence-based medicine</a>,’ and the broader research literature on industry funding and <a href="https://www.citedpodcast.com/why-is-industry-funding-an-issue/">why it’s a problem</a>. <br> ———-FOLLOW CITED———-<br> To keep up with Cited, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/citedpodcast">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citedpodcast/">Facebook</a>. Tweet at us, or email your feedback to <a href="mailto:info@citedmedia.ca">info@citedmedia.ca</a>–we might just read it on the show.<br> ———-CREDITS———-<br> This episode was produced by <a href="https://twitter.com/jaycockburn?lang=en">Jay Cockburn</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/gordonkatic?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Gordon Katic</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/franklynnb">Franklynn Bartol</a> was our research assistant.<br> Our theme song and original music is by our composer, <a href="http://mikebarber.ca/">Mike Barber</a>. <a href="https://www.dakotakoop.com/">Dakota Koop</a> is our graphic designer. Our production manager is David Tobiasz, and executive producers are <a href="https://twitter...."></a>
