AstraZeneca sponsors "Living with bipolar" exhibit: NAMI, DBSA

Everywhere you go, it seems that pharma has already been there.

AstraZeneca, makers of Seroquel and Seroquel XR is sponsoring a traveling exhibit titled, "The Bipolar Journey: Living with Bipolar Depression".

From AstraZeneca's site, Facing Bipolar (DTC via the web, yet another marketing tactic)

"The Bipolar Journey: Living with Bipolar Depression exhibit is designed to educate and inspire you, or people you know with bipolar depression, through inspirational imagery, activities, and informational resources. It is our hope that your visit to the exhibit will educate and inspire those who are affected by bipolar depression and those who care for them.

The exhibit will provide you with interactive tools and educational materials designed to help you work with your physician and to help manage your disease, as well as information and resources about bipolar depression, which you can take for yourself or members of your family.

Additionally, The Bipolar Journey: Living With Bipolar Depression exhibit will offer opportunities to register for Thinking Forward™, a patient support program that offers free treatment information, resources, and practical advice designed to help you work with your health care provider and move forward with your treatment plan.

The calendar

Ohio
Cleveland
August 29
NAMI Greater Cleveland Walk

Indiana
Indianapolis
September 10-11
DBSA 2009 National Conference: Peer Connections

Illinois
Chicago
September 13
4th Annual NAMIWalks Chicago 2009

Minnesota
Minneapolis
September 26
2009 NAMIWalks Minnesota

Georgia
Atlanta
October 3
NAMI Georgia Walk 2009

Florida
St. Petersburg
October 11
NAMI Pinellas County: Wellness Fair and Sunset Stroll

New York
Rochester
October 15
20th Annual Family Health and Fitness Fair

Texas
Houston
October 22-24
NAMI Texas 25th Anniversary Conference

Connecticut
New Haven
October 31
NAMI-CT State Conference


AstraZeneca says:

"This experience is sponsored by AstraZeneca as part of its ongoing efforts to support mental health awareness. AstraZeneca believes it is critical that people with bipolar depression get the treatment they need to recover, because, left untreated, bipolar depression can have a tremendous toll on the people who suffer from it, their loved ones, and society."

Some of my thoughts

Isn't a conflict of interest for NAMI and DBSA to have a pharmaceutical company sponsored event, where the company promotes a specific drug approved for bipolar depression?

The statement above by AstraZeneca is directly targeting NAMI families promoting the drug treatment paradigm for the purpose of selling a product. By telling NAMI family members that their loved ones dx with bipolar take a toll on them and society, and using their drug might help, is a DTC, direct to consumer manipulation at its worst.

What do you think? are you a patient who has a family pushing meds at you as a result of learning that is the "right way" to treat your illness? do they attend NAMI or DBSA groups?

Are you comfortable with a drug company selling a drug for bipolar depression (Seroquel, is an antipsychotic with diabetes black box warning, currently in litigation for documents hiding known side effect and selling it anyway) running a website telling you, how to manage your bipolar? do you take what the company says as face value? should you question the ethics, based on AstraZeneca marketing Seroquel knowing that diabetes was a side effect? (ala Zyprexa)


Related links of interest

NAMI writes joint statement letter to FDA requesting Seroquel be approved for use in kids age 10-17, June 2009

NAMI has exclusive multi-year partnership with AstraZeneca

*NAMI convention photo credit

Senator Grassley investigates financing of advocacy group, NAMI,2009 -Bloomberg