1. Frodo on August 8, 2011 12:16 PM writes...

Don't jinx yourself, Derek. True, your blog has a very intelligent and eloquent following. Evil trolls are everywhere on the Internet, though.

I am not a chemist, but I enjoy reading your blog every day. You need to get going on a book. I'll buy it.

2. Student on August 8, 2011 12:51 PM writes...

Unfortunately this begs the question if any influential decision makers read this blog and if they consider yourself and your followers opinions worthy of considering.

3. CMCguy on August 8, 2011 2:34 PM writes...

Hmm.. I would actually be a bit concerned if "influential decision makers" had time to read this or any other blog. That said I trust those that do read it are both educated and stimulated so can (and willing to) offer input to those in greater influence.

"what's wrong with the drug industry" has developed over many, many years and "what might be done to fix it" is not likely going to be fast solutions either and well could have negative impact on Chemists/Science employment (although Munos' call for "cut R&D" is not that simplistic as more advocate reduction/elimination of certain types to focus toward high potential "breakthroughs".

4. Vladimir Chupakhin on August 8, 2011 3:24 PM writes...

Honestly, I'm reading the blog mostly because of the comments!

5. Rick on August 8, 2011 6:22 PM writes...

CMC guy, #3
""what's wrong with the drug industry" has developed over many, many years" I'd add it's developed into a cottage industry of its own over these many, many years. As with the hedge fund industry and waste management, there's money to be made in failures and garbage. Actually fixing the problems with the system would be bad for business!

6. Foolseverywhere on August 8, 2011 6:45 PM writes...

What was intelligent about it?

A banking shill, Bernard Munos, spreading lies to a bunch of dum dum scientists that the "industry will collapse!!" unless they work for nothing.

Guess what dum dum scientists: does the insolvent banking system ever collapse? Funny how in all those freshly minted trillion dollars handed to dead banks, you poor peasants called scientists can't manage to scrape out a dime to your name. Meanwhile Banker Exhibit A hands himself a 100 million dollar bonus for managing a dead bank....boy you guys need Derek to keep you real dumb.

7. cliffintokyo on August 9, 2011 3:18 AM writes...

#6 Absolutely on the money! (sic)
I have packed up and left science.
See UK news: scientists don't do rampage.
Your post should be a 'caveat emptor' handout for all potential student science majors.
After all, most people prefer to be a parasite than to work for a subsistence wage.
Has *Bankster A* got the message? Does he care? (Hint: Rhetorical Questions)

8. Rick on August 9, 2011 9:09 AM writes...

Interesting and relevant article in today's NY Times Science Times section on efforts to recruit more scientist into the political arena. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/science/09emily.html?ref=science Same thing could be said for getting scientists into top executive & board positions in pharma and biotech as well as into education.

9. MoMo on August 9, 2011 4:48 PM writes...

Dont lose sleep #6, as some of us dumb scientists stick our thumbs in the eyes of management and guys like you every day. Its the wizards like us that sign the patents on useful compounds, ones made without upper management approval or even knowledge. But they sure like them! Ca - ching!