Infomail Archive, 2005

Infomail 2005 News Stories on Human Research Protection and Commentary by Vera Hassner Sharav Subscribe to the AHRP infomail list Dec 16: Drugs, Devices & Doctors – NYT Paul Krugman Dec 11: Scientific Fraud & Corruption on Both sides of Atlantic: Merck / Proctor & Gamble Dec 11: Gov Accountability…

FDA Scientist Won’t Present New Pain Drug Data – FDA to Create Independent Drug Safety Board

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…

THE CONSTANT GARDENER–John le Carre’s novel about Big Pharma gets rave reviews

THE CONSTANT GARDENER–John le Carre’s novel about Big Pharma gets rave reviews Sat, 3 Sep 2005 Constant Gardener, the movie based on the novel by John le Carre, about the pharmaceutical industry’s immoral and even criminal activities,  opened nationwide.   It has already received rave reviews. Below are two reviews…

FDA Official Calls Newsletter Unethical – WP / Senate Considers Safety Reform at FDA – LAT

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…

BBC PANORAMA TONIGHT – Taken on Trust – 13 years-Medical Deception

BBC PANORAMA TONIGHT – Taken on Trust – 13 years-Medical Deception Sun, 3 Oct 2004 BBC-Panorama is airing its third in a series of investigative reports about the betrayal of trust in psychiatry, drug manufacturers and government regulators. The first program, The Secret of Seroxat, aired October 13, 2002, revealed…

Documents Suggest Merck Tried to Censor Vioxx Critics – NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4696609 Documents Suggest Merck Tried to Censor Vioxx Critics NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO All Things Considered, June 9, 2005 – Because of intense interest in this report, NPR has decided to present a full transcript. Introduction: At least 38,000 Americans are believed to have died from taking the pain pill Vioxx…

Infomail Archive 2004

Infomail 2004 News Stories on Human Research Protection and Commentary by Vera Hassner Sharav Dec 31: FDA to review “missing” drug company documents Dec 30: Family of Woman Killed by AIDS Drug Test Sues Doctors, Manufacturer Dec 30: Doctors, Too, Ask: Is This Drug Right? Dec 29: Bill would shield…

At FDA, Changes In Name Only–Agency Puts Business interests Above Safety

At FDA, Changes In Name Only–Agency Puts Business interests Above Safety Fri, 30 Sep 2005 The sudden resignation of FDA Commissioner, Lester Crawford, after just two months in office, has prompted a bipartisan Senate investigation and requests both by the Senate committee HELP and by congressman Maurice Hinchey (NY) and…

Corporate Culture of Denial Results in Preventable Deaths

Corporate Culture of Denial Results in Preventable Deaths Fri, 7 Jan 2005 Failure to disclose the hazardous effects of Vioxx and Prozac are evidence of a corporate culture that has run amok. Uncovered company documents – some obtained through litigation, others unearthed by whistleblowers – reveal that the manufacturers knew…

Grassley Calls for Safety Review /Unsafe Drugs Marketed to Consumers / FDA Lacks Leadership

Grassley Calls for Safety Review /Unsafe Drugs Marketed to Consumers / FDA Lacks Leadership Sun, 19 Dec 2004 “We expect the FDA to not put a drug on the market that’s not safe. And you can’t compromise safety, regardless of how much pressure there is to get more drugs on…