Topic: Webmd

A pharmaceutical lobbyist defends direct-to-consumer advertising as a tool for "raising awareness" for conditions like depression and restless leg syndrome. The hosts argue that these ads are designed to drive patients to doctors to request specific high-cost drugs, noting that insurance copays are often calculated based on inflated retail prices that insurers never actually pay.

The hosts analyze the marketing of Zohydro, focusing on the fact that the pill is "crushable," making it easier to abuse by snorting. They suggest the drug company, Zogenics, is benefiting from the media attention while claiming to monitor for abuse.

WebMD has appointed Kavan Redmond, a former senior executive at Pfizer, as its new CEO to bolster its struggling share price. This move is criticized as a blatant conflict of interest, placing a "Big Pharma" shill in charge of a primary source for consumer health information. The company's stock has remained stagnant despite efforts to find new "sustainable growth platforms."

The use of Corexit oil dispersants by Evergreen Air in the Gulf of Mexico is questioned, with the hosts citing reports that the chemicals may be more harmful than the oil itself. The conversation shifts to Mel Gibson's leaked tapes, with the hosts speculating that his aggressive behavior may be a side effect of the smoking-cessation drug Chantix, which has been linked to reports of violence and aggression.