Time for a Drug Test Registry_Marcia Angell_Why NIH is Not Up to the Task

Time for a Drug Test Registry_Marcia Angell_Why NIH is Not Up to the Task Fri, 13 Aug 2004 The uncovering of concealed, unpublished evidence showing that children suffered harm in antidepressant drug trials, has led to a rude public awakening. Selective reporting of clinical trial data has become “standard practice”…

What’s in a Warning? Antidepressants and Risk of Suicide – FindLaw

What’s in a Warning? Antidepressants and Risk of Suicide – FindLaw Thu, 22 Apr 2004 Contrary to the published reports in the peer-reviewed journals, the preponderance of evidence demonstrates that antidepressants pose a greater risk than a benefit for children. *[References below] Informed medical treatment decisions hinge on the decision…

All pesticides pose serious health risks to humans–especially children

Comprehensive scientific review concluded: All pesticides pose serious health risks to humans–especially children Sat, 8 May 2004 The Ontario College of Family Physicians (“the voice of family medicine in Ontario”) conducted an exhaustive review of the medical/scientific pesticide literature from around the world (1990–2003) on the health effects of commonly…

Cong Hearing Re: Disclosure Pediatric SSRI Trials

Cong Hearing Re: Disclosure Pediatric SSRI Trials Wed, 7 Jul 2004 A hearing has been tentatively set for July 20th by the House subcommittee on oversight and investigations, chaired by Congressman James Greenwood. The hearing will address issues of disclosure involving pediatric antidepressant drug trials–or more accurately, non-disclosure of adverse…

20% Drop in Psych Drugs Prescribed for US Children – WashPost

20% Drop in Psych Drugs Prescribed for US Children – WashPost Sat, 8 Oct 2005 The Washington Post reports (below) that prescriptions for antidepressants for children have dropped an unprecedented 20% in the US. A continuing series of substantiated reports and Black Box warnings about an increased risk of suicide,…

Debate: When Is it Ethical / Unethical to Use Placebo? – PLoS

Debate: When Is it Ethical / Unethical to Use Placebo? – PLoS Wed, 12 Oct 2005 A debate in PLoS Medicine addresses the question: Should researchers test an experimental treatment against placebo to prove the superiority of the new treatment? The ethical standards for research adopted by the World Medical…

Lies & Broken Promises – Drug firm Websites Fail to Disclose Test Data

Lies & Broken Promises_Drug firm Websites Fail to Disclose Test Data Sun, 9 Jan 2005 One year after PhRMA’s publicized proclamation of its “commitment to transparency” The Boston Globe reviewed pharmaceutical company websites searching for disclosure of clinical trial data. The Globe found that this voluntary approach failed miserably: “Last…

Charitable Choice: Research Grants–Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – National Journal

Charitable Choice: Research Grants–Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – National Journal Tue, 8 Mar 2005 The Washington Post reports that conservatives have crafted a “bioethics agenda” on cloning and stem cell research. Such an agendaq determines what research the government will and will not fund. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15569-2005Mar7.html Below is an excerpt of…

Federal Study Finds No Benefit of New Antipsychotic Drugs – WashPost/Wall StreetJ/NY Times

Federal Study Finds No Benefit of New Antipsychotic Drugs – WashPost/Wall StreetJ/NY Times Tue, 20 Sep 2005 The findings of a $44 million government sponsored study, CATIE, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, comparing an older generic antipsychotic to four new atypical antipsychotics, undercut the legitimacy of psychiatry’s…

$95 billion a year spent on medical research in US – JAMA

$95 billion a year spent on medical research in US – JAMA Fri, 23 Sep 2005 A special issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA, focuses on medical research spending and findings. A study that examined US spending for medical research—$95 billion approaching $100 billion–57% is spent…

P&G Osteoperosis Drug Trials Spark Major Academic Research Debate Re: Concealed Data

P&G Osteoperosis Drug Trials Spark Major Academic Research Debate Re: Concealed Data Friday, November 25, 2005 Dr. Aubrey Blumsohn: “No self-respecting scientist could ever be expected to publish findings based on data to which they do not have complete and full access.” Sri David Weatherall, Professor Emeritus, Oxford: “People need…