Gov Accountability Project Creates “FactSquad” on Rx Drugs December 11, 2005 In the wake of the credibility crisis public trust in the safety of FDA-approved prescription drugs is eroded. The Government Accounability Project (GAP) has established a “Fact Squad” to challenge poor performance; in particular, FDA’s failure to protect the…
Study found: older patients risk death on BOTH old and new Antipsychotics Thu, 01 Dec 2005 Elderly patients prescribed antipsychotics–old neuroleptics (such as Haldol) or the new antipsychotics (such as Zyprexa or Risperdal)–were at increased risk of death. The risk for the older drugs is estimated to be 17.9% and…
"Serotonin and depression: A disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature."
"Some 19 million people in the U.S. suffer from depression in any given year. For many, SSRIs help little, if at all. To do better, we have to get the science right." Sharon Begley, Wall Street Journal
The Columbia lecture was originally scheduled as a debate between David Healy, MD and James Coyne, PhD. The debate did not take place, and Dr. Coyne subsequently lectured in Rutgers the following week. The lecture covered the main points Dr. Coyne makes in the e-mail below. Dr. Healy’s response follows….
Loss of Trust: Big Drug Makers See Sales Decline With Their Image – NYT Mon, 14 Nov 2005 The lead front page article in today’s New York Times reports: “A poll last month showed that only 9 percent of Americans believed drug companies were generally honest, down from 14 percent…
Dr. Scott Gottlieb’s ties to drug firms spark questions over agency hiring policies
"Every year, drug companies spend $14 billion to test experimental substances on humans. Across the U.S., the centers that do the testing–and the regulators who watch them–allow scores of human test subjects to be injured or killed."
Former FDA Commissioner or Wife Held Stock in FDA Regulated Area – NYT Thu, 27 Oct 2005 The mystery behind the resignation of Dr. Lester Crawford seems to be about failure to divest from financail holdings in companies regualted by the FDA. The New York Times cites Dr. Crawford’s statement…
NYT reporter Judith Miller: Woman of Mass Destruction–Not Joan of Arc Sat, 22 Oct 2005 New York Times columnist, Maureen Dowd: “Investigative reporting is not stenography.” Judith Miller”s reputation has taken a sprialling spin downward from her own doing–she transcribed what her Administration “sources” and their conmen fed her- Unfortunately,…
October 14, 2005 link to pdf of original letter Dr. Russell Katz Director, Neuropharmacological Drug Products Food and Drug Administration, FDA 120 1451 Rockville Pike, Room 4037 Rockville, MD 20852 Re: FDA Neurontin Safety Analyses Dear Dr. Katz: Due to the continued public danger facing a substantial class of…
Bush’s Choice for F.D.A. Chief to Keep Other Job Mon, 26 Sep 2005 President Bush proposes to appoint Dr. von Eschenbach to head the FDA while at the same time maintaining his “day job” as head of the National Cancer Institute. Clearly the administration thinks very little about the importance…
FDA Had Report of Heart Device failures Mon, 12 Sep 2005 A series of irresponsible national policies put corporate interests above public safety undermining the health and lives of American citizens. The world witnessed the consequences of those irresponsible policies: namely, a colossal break down in the nation’s homeland security…
