Dr Ian Hudson (MHRA) In the Red!

Many thanks to Derek Scott of the Online Seroxat Support Group for digging through his archives and finding this little gem.

You may recall previous posts on here regarding Dr Ian Hudson of the MHRA. For those that don't know Dr Hudson was employed by GlaxoSmithKline (SKB). He has also gone on record stating that he had a significant involvement in Seroxat.

Dr Ian Hudson was not interviewed by the MHRA enforcement officers - as yet, it is not known why. I have recently requested this information from the MHRA.

My good friend Derek Scott has vast amount of Seroxat articles. He recently sent me this, it needs to be seen not only by patients but by the MHRA as well.

The title of this post is 'Dr Ian Hudson (MHRA) In the Red' - The relevant part of this information is in red.

07 March 2007

Source: The Courier

A DUNDEE MP is calling for the controversial anti-depressant Seroxat to be suspended for all new patients in the light of growing evidence linking the drug to suicidal tendencies.

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie met the medicines trade body, the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries, to outline his concerns about the drug.

A recent US Food and Drug Administration report found a six-fold increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and acts in children and a three-fold increase in adults after Seroxat treatment.

It is the latest in a long line of damning reports over the drug’s dangerous effect on an unacceptably high number of adults and children, and Mr Hosie has criticised ministers for “dragging their heels over the strong evidence regarding Seroxat.”

He has also joined a growing number of cross-party MPs in criticising the body responsible for licensing the drug, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), for being too close to the pharmaceutical industry.

Speaking after his meeting with the pharmaceutical industries association, Mr Hosie said, “From what I have heard during the meeting, it is my understanding that many people within the pharmaceutical industry share my concerns about the apparent close relationship between the MHRA and the companies it regulates.

“The MHRA is currently funded by industry fees but I feel that it is important for the government to set up some kind of positive mechanism outside the industry to create a perceptible distance.”

However, the MHRA said that a working relationship with the industry was vital, and that appropriate safeguards were in place to ensure industry funding did not impede its regulatory independence.

A spokesperson added, “The funding of MHRA is a political decision, taken by ministers of successive governments. The current Government policy is that they have no plans to change the current system.”

The concern over industry links at the MHRA is inexorably linked to the debate over continued licensing of Seroxat.

MPs and campaigners have misgivings about certain members of the company’s executive board being too close to the company which manufacturers the drug—pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

MHRA chairman Professor Alistair Breckenridge once sat on the scientific advisory committee of GSK subsidiary SmithKline Beecham, while MHRA head of licensing Dr Ian Hudson was formerly director of safety at the firm.

On a public declaration of interests submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), Dr Hudson admits that he previously had “significant involvement in a number of SB products—especially Avandia, Hycamtin and Paroxetine (aka Seroxat).”

FULL STORY HERE

The article itself is old news. It's a story that has been told time and time again. Interestingly, I never knew Hudson had a significant interest in Avandia as well as Seroxat!

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