A new Web site lets physicians discuss adverse drug reactions and novel ways to use medications, Long Island Newsday reports. Some physicians in the past have complained that FDA and pharmaceutical companies wait too long to publicize serious drug reactions.
The Web site -- called Sermo, which is Latin for conversation -- was launched in October 2006 and has registered more than 5,000 physicians. The Web site only can be accessed by physicians whose credentials are checked against several databases, Newsday reports. Physicians nationwide can use the site, but it is not yet open to physicians in other countries.
Sermo does not accept advertising and is not influenced by pharmaceutical companies, according to Dr. Daniel Palestrant, Sermo's chief executive. Palestrant in the future plans to allow pharmaceutical companies to conduct polls on the site for a fee, but no companies have signed up yet.
FDA could not be reached for comment on the Web site (Kerr, Long Island Newsday, 1/16).