The wining and dining continues

[agate]

We've gone into this before, and I hope it won't be too tiresome if I mention yet another invitation I received to a drug-company sponsored event.

This one is in about a month, with a free dinner at what is probably a fairly nice hotel:

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Free parking, free dinner, and a seminar on Tecfidera featuring a local neurologist and an MS Advocate.

I'm not knocking this. It could be very informative and helpful. I'm just struck by how many of these events there are.

[Frog42]

The menu looks good. Are you going?

[Lazarus]

I do not go any longer as they are very formulaic.....

There is usually an uplifting speaker to start. The 'I have MS but It does not have me' sort of speaker.
Then the local neurologist explains the basics of MS and touts the particular drug that he/she is being paid to tout.

The last time I went to one I had a circular conversation with the neurologist when I asked a question about factors that would recommend one drug and not another drug. I did not realize that the doc could not answer my question because it might interfere with all the touting he should be doing. It was not pleasant as I was confused about why the question I asked was not clear and kept trying to rephrase.

It is just a strictly engineered affair. Sort of like a prom. Awkward.

[agate]

Thanks for the first-hand account, Linda. I've often wondered if the dinners are like that.

Vicky, I won't be going. I hardly ever go to anything. Transportation is fairly tricky, and I get tired easily. I just read about Tecfidera as information comes my way. As Linda indicated, a dinner sponsored by the drug company is going to highlight anything positive they can find to say about the drug--and probably push negative information far into the background.

But it's probably a good way to get a good general picture of how to take the drug and what you might expect from it. And you dine out, and you might meet some interesting people.

Though if it's like a prom, maybe you wouldn't get much chance to chat with the interesting people. You'd stay connected to your "date" without doing much socializing. Sounds as if the people in charge will want your attention 99% of the time.

[Howie]

Ugh...me man...me hungry...me go.

[Virginia]

Agate, I just got one of those invitations also. In addition, I got another one from Serono, the drug company that makes Rebif. Both of these invitations are at very nice restaurants and they had extremely expensive meals at the one I attended some months ago.

It was alright and I did meet a couple of ladies that I talked with. The food was excellent and I think many of the people were there just for that. I went because I wanted to ask the Doctor a question. He answered my question, and then put a "but" on the end of it so he could add something more favorable about Rebif. It was very obvious he was there for them and not the people. It really didn't bother me because I was expecting this to be the case. I had a great meal and the talk was not too long and the rest of the time I talked to other people. The drug salesman was there and he came over to me and added something about the question I had asked (obviously very favorable to the drug).

Actually, it was a nice evening, as I didn't have far to go and I just wanted to see what these affairs are like and also ask that one question.