Harris Poll: Pharma a Bit More Trustworthy, But in Need of More Regulation?

Harris Interactive has just come out with results of its annual poll of which industries are the most trusted in the eyes of the public. Pharma, once high on the list, took a deep dive over the past decade (languishing in near-Tobacco territory), but has in the past few years bounced back in public perception. And while the 2,000+ adults surveyed by Harris this year still believe that pharma is one of the industries that needs more regulation (just behind oil), these opinions softened slightly--46% believe our industry needs more regulation, compared to 57% nearly a decade ago.

Do consumers trust drug companies with their personal information? Somewhat, say the Harris numbers. Banks, hospitals, and insurance companies fared much worse in this regard.

--Paul Thomas