Show A Destructive Inquisition President Nixon has recommended a million campaign to speed up cancer cancer can can- research as part of the Administrations Administrations Administration's tion's lions plans to improve the nations nation's health services Cancer is one of the few remaining dread afflictions that have yet to be conquered by science Advances in the medical arts and in development of a wide range of wonder drugs have altered the life of the average average aver aver- age person from a day to gamble with death to virtual per cent assurance assurance as as- of a risk low existence barring accidents for many decades dec 1 s Th is a asad asad asad sad reminder that continued scientific progress in the quest for discoveries to further advance the cause of medical med ical care have been threatened to an increasing degree by a senseless public public pub pub- lic lie policy of hostility toward the U. U S. S prescription drug industry For over 10 years the industry has never been free of the atmosphere of inquisition Its good works have been obscured and dis dis- dis Clouds of paper work and regulatory regu regu- regulatory restrictions have descended on every drug company laboratory Drug firms are diversifying into other fields of endeavor Today the introduction of ofa a new drug is a cumbersome costly process requiring years and the submission submission submission sub sub- mission of a mountain of reports Most great drug discoveries or their translation into mass production of med mcd- that have revolutionized the battle battle bat bat- tle lie against diseases es such as polio are products of American drug firms the very firms that have borne the brunt of the political inquisition of the last de de- cade In the long run it is highly unlikely unlikely un un- un likely that any substantial progress will willbe willbe willbe be made against remaining afflictions such as cancer or heart disease except as it can be based upon a highly highly-effic lent research oriented drug industry That is the kind of industry we have had in hi the past in this country and it itis itis itis is the kind that must be perpetuated for the future well being of mankind |