The major classes of prescription drugs are failures. Most drugs are never
designed to address the underlying biochemical causes of disease — and they may
intentionally be designed to create life-long dependency. …
The lawsuit alleges that “Merck’s costly promotional campaign was intended to
convince purchasers that the drug was not only safe, but that they should demand
it from their healthcare professionals for pain treatment,” according to a
statement from the attorney general. …
The charges would appear serious – the FDA says the drugmakers variously omitted
material facts; miminized important risks; overstated efficacy or made
unsubstantiated claims. …
“I don’t think what’s being announced will protect humans and the environment from all the potential risks that a genetically engineered animal may pose,” said Jaffe of the Center for Science in the Public Interest [and he’s avidly pro-GM!]
Families in Argentina are saying GlaxoSmithKline tricked them into participating
in an experimental vaccine trial by telling them their children were receiving
medical treatment …
“Regardless of the cause, publication bias harms the public good by impairing
the ability of clinicians and patients to make informed clinical decisions, and
the ability of scientists to design safer and more efficient trials based on
past findings,” the authors wrote. “Publication bias can thus be considered a
form of scientific misconduct.” …
This year’s report from the Attorney General’s Office showed that Vermont
doctors received $3.1 million in gifts and donations from the pharmaceutical and
medical industry — an increase of 33 percent over the previous year. …
That’s bad news for the companies that make leading atypicals–Johnson & Johnson Risperdal, Eli Lilly (Zyprexa), Bristol-Myers Squibb (Abilify),Pfizer (Geodon), AstraZeneca(Seroquel). Prescription rates for these meds have enjoyed a
strong growth curve, increasing more than fivefold among children over the past
15 years. …
The lawsuit was filed for the Attorney General’s Office in the 1st Judicial
District Court in Santa Fe by a Houston civil litigation firm, Bailey Perrin
Bailey, which specializes in lawsuits over the new generation of antipsychotic
drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. …
the public doesn’t trust pharma to share adverse info on their meds, further undermining that faith–and hurting
pharma’s rep. …