Lipitor (a statin), the cholesterol-lowering drug, has become the bestselling pharmaceutical in history. Here's how Pfizer did it

This post features an article published in Forbes magazine January 6th 2003 and a recipe for lemon and garlic scallops.

Pfizer's sales campaign in doctors' offices has been very aggressive

Books:

Every year, drug companies spend billions of dollars teaching their sales reps how to 'persuade' doctors to prescribe their particular products.

Pfizer have 13,000 salespeople. The trainees go through weeks of simulated sales calls in a mock physician's office, built like a movie set on one of Pfizer's upstate New York campuses. On the simulation stage, former sales reps play harried and irritable doctors. Trainees are timed and judged on their ability to deliver a pitch for a Pfizer drug.

This begs the question: Should patients be given particular drugs based on how good the sales reps are at their job?

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 

Recipe of the day

Lemon and Garlic Scallops
 
Serves 6
 
Ingredients:

Food Mall: Scallops

•3 tbsp garlic, minced;

•2 tbsp lemon juice;

•3/4 cup butter (or Ghee);
•2 pounds large scallops;
•Salt and pepper to taste.

Technique:
1.Heat a pan over a medium heat and melt the butter or ghee. Add the minced garlic for a minute, until fragrant;

2.Add the scallops and cook for a few minutes on the first side so they are about halfway cooked. Turn the scallops and finish cooking until they are firm and opaque.

3.Put the scallops aside to a plate and add the lemon juice to the hot butter and garlic in the pan. Season to taste;

4.Serve the scallops on a bed of steamed or roasted vegetables with the lemon and garlic butter sauce on top. Spinach and asparagus go very well with scallops. Additionally, sprinkle some fresh parsley or chives on top if available.