HMO physician applauds Spitzer’s focus on information bias / NYT blind spot Sun, 20 Jun 2004 The affirmation by a Kaiser Permanente physician, Dr. Kate Scannell, that NYS Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, deserves applause for his “bold and courageous” lawsuit, is an encouraging watershed. The suit, she says, “gives me…
FDA Scientist Won’t Present New Pain Drug Data – FDA to Create Independent Drug Safety Board Tue, 15 Feb 2005 A culture of intimidation prevents FDA safety officers from disclosing important safety information about widely marketed drugs. Reuters reports: “Criticism of how the FDA monitors the after-market safety of drugs…
Glaxo Pricing Under DOJ investigation / GAO Report Says Medicaid Overpays for Drugs Wed, 9 Mar 2005 Reuters reports that GlaxoSmithKline is under investigation by the Department of Justice concerning Medicaid drug pricing. The skyrocketing cost of drugs is depleting Medicaid, the nation’s largest health insturance program paid for by…
How Did the Vioxx Debacle Happen? USA Today / Lancet Tue, 12 Oct 2004 Dr. Eric Topol of the Cleveland Clinic: “The senior executives at Merck and the leadership at the FDA share responsibility for not having taken appropriate action and not recognizing that they are accountable for the public…
At FDA, Graham is still the whistle-blower – USA Today Thu, 17 Nov 2005 On Nov. 18, 2004, Dr. David Graham, FDA’s associate director for science and medicine, blew the whistle in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, on FDA’s “profound regulatory failure” to protect the public against lethal prescription…
Another deadly drug recalled – FDA asks Congress for Power to Dictate Warnings Tue, 1 Mar 2005 Public pressure has intensified as FDA’s failure to protect the public from unsafe – even lethal drugs. That failure included the failure to at least warn physicians and the public about severe adverse…
FDA Officials Tried to tone Down Report of 27,000 heart attacks on Vioxx – WSJ – WashPost Sun, 10 Oct 2004 The FDA attempted to block a senior medical officer from making his findings known about the lethal hazards of Vioxx: Senator Chuck Grassley stated: “Instead of acting as a…
FDA acknowledges failure to act as defibrillator malfunction increased: 4,225 failed between 2000–2003 Sat, 17 Sep 2005 The Washington Post reports that the number of failed heart defibrillators is increasing: “William H. Maisel, the Harvard Medical School physician who conducted the FDA study, said the increase is significant and contrasts…
FDA Commissioner Nominee told Senate He’s Open to Independent Safety Unit / Biogen issues Avonex Warning Fri, 18 Mar 2005 It would be impossible to gain insight into Lester Crawford’s confirmation hearings by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee if one read only one news report. The Los…
To view AHRP news and infomails from 2006, please visit our new site. Infomails Subscribe to AHRP’s infomails At FDA, Graham is still the whistle-blower Loss of Trust: Big Drug Makers See Sales Decline With Their Image War hero’s death in clinical trial follows years of FDA neglect European perspective:…
Guidant Case May Involve Crime Inquiry Thu, 29 Sep 2005 The New York Times reports that “criminal investigators at the Food and Drug Administration have apparently become involved in the agency’s inquiry into how the Guidant Corporation handled problems with its heart devices, said two people contacted by the investigators."…
FDA Official Calls Newsletter Unethical – WP / Senate Considers Safety Reform at FDA – LAT Fri, 4 Mar 2005 The Washington Post reports about yet another instance of a high FDA official who misspoke. Dr. Sandra Kweder, Deputy Director of FDA’s Office of New Drugs, sent a letter, “written…
