Every day we use drugs to prevent or treat illnesses, but the truth is that our knowledge about them is scant; we know truly little about how they work, how they are tested and approved, the costs genuinely incurred by those who produce them and by the healthcare system. Have we ever asked ourselves why more than one drug exists for the same problem? And how does the pharmaceutical market work? This book answers these questions (and others), guiding us through a complex world and helping us make more informed choices. In recent years the pharmaceutical industry has undeniably made enormous progress in therapy and rehabilitation, yet it has also worked to further expand its influence, producing comparable drugs and promoting research that does not always cater to patients’ actual needs.

Silvio Garattini is a physician and, in 1961, founded the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, and is its current president. He has worked in several drug policy organisations and held various international posts.