Who's Zooming Who?

I am currently in England at London Heathrow. I am nearing the end of an 8 hour layover before the 6 hour flight to Abuja. On my way to England I attended a meeting sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. Having never been to such a meeting, I expected it to essentially consist of aggressive, biased presentations in favor of the company's products. However, much to my surprise, there was actually more science here than at the supposedly neutral society meetings.With the increasingly intricate involvement between academic centers and big pharma drug trials, many presentations at e.g., the AAO and ASER have turned into blatant advertisements for various drugs. This trend seems to have markedly accelerated over the past 5 years. (I have been going to such meetings for the past 15 years). Note:I am not necessarily blaming academic centers for jumping into partnerships with various pharm. companies, but some of the presentations are so over the top it is rather embarassing...

However, at the meeting I attended yesterday there was really very little "fluff." Instead detailed analyses of various treatment options for macular degeneration were reviewed in minute detail. Future treatment options were thoughtfully debated. I was thoroughly impressed. It was probably one of the best meetings I have attended in the last few years.

But it sure makes my head spin to see more biased presentations at society meetings than at a drug company sponsored meeting...