Zantac Lawsuit


Researching drug company and regulatory malfeasance for over 16 years
Humanist, humorist

Monday, September 08, 2008

How a New Policy Led to Seven Deadly Drugs




Source: LA Times
Date: 20 December 2000

Medicine: Once a wary watchdog, the Food and Drug Administration set out to become a "partner" of the pharmaceutical industry. Today, the public has more remedies, but some are proving lethal.


I'd like to concentrate on two of those 7 'deadly' drugs.

Raxar - Glaxo Wellcome

Read withdrawal statement from Glaxo Wellcome HERE


Raxar was indicated for the treatment of a variety of infections including pneumonia, bronchitis, and some sexually transmitted infections.

An estimated 2.65 million patients were treated with Glaxo Wellcome's Raxar before it was found to cause severe cardiovascular events among patients.

Strangely, Glaxo Wellcome ended their statement with:

"Glaxo Wellcome is a research-based company whose people are committed to fighting disease by bringing innovative medicines and services to patients throughout the world and to the healthcare providers who serve them."

Another of the seven 'deadly' drugs mentioned in the Times article from 2000 was Glaxo Wellcome's Lotronex, a prescription medication for the treatment of women with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.



The Food and Drug Administration received voluntary reports linking the company's drug to five deaths and additional bowel surgeries. Glaxo Wellcome's James Palmer, MD, senior vice president and director of Group Medical Regulatory and Product Strategy at Glaxo Wellcome said, "We greatly regret this outcome and believe that Lotronex is effective, that its side effects are manageable, and that the benefits of the product when treating IBS outweigh the risks."



So out of 7 'deadly' drugs - Glaxo Wellcome can be proud that two of their products made the list.



The LA Times article was written in 2000. 8 years on and Glaxo still manage to make headline news with drugs such as Avandia and Seroxat. Today Glaxo tell us that they are 'a leading healthcare company that helps people to do more, feel better and live longer.'

Yeh, forgive me for finishing this piece but... a pig just flew past my window!



Fid




Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal

By Bob Fiddaman

ISBN: 978-1-84991-120-7
CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD HERE


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