Heart Stents Failed to Prevent Heart Attacks, or Deaths - have never been proven to decrease deaths

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Defective Drug Newsletter - April 2007- Providing Information on Controversial DrugsFeatured Stories TV Ads For Celebrex to Resume After Side Effects Scare - April 2, 2007Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will launch a new television commercial for its once popular arthritis painkiller Celebrex after over two years in the dark because of serious side effects linked to the drug. The advertisement will run for 2 1/2 minutes—five times longer than most commercials, leaving enough time to reveal the risks and benefits of Celebrex. read full article Ketek to Get a Boxed Warning of Heightened Risks - March 29, 2007In January 2006, concerns over Ketek side effects were raised after a report showed that three hospital patients suffered extreme liver damage after taking the antibiotic. Since it's approval in 2004, Ketek has been linked to hundreds of cases of liver damage, at least a dozen cases of liver failure, and nine deaths.read full article Anemia Drugs Get Black-Box Warnings - March 25, 2007The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently added black-box labels—the strongest agency warning—to the popular anemia drugs Procrit, Aransep, Epogen, citing a heightened risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and death in patients using the medications. Procrit, Epogen, and Aransep are classified as Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs). These drugs are designed to raise the number of red blood cells produced by the kidney, aiding cancer or kidney disease patients who sometimes become anemic. read full article Study: Heart Stents Failed to Prevent Heart Attacks, Deaths - March 22, 2007In a new, closely watched study involving U.S. veterans, researchers found that bare-metal heart stents were not effective in averting heart attacks or deaths and worked no better than drug-coated stents, which are linked to blood clot formation. The results of the seven-year “Courage” study weren't surprising since stents have never been proven to decrease deaths in patients evaluated by the study—those with chronic chest pain. read full article Drug Company - Doctor Relationships Questioned - March 20, 2007For years, pharmaceutical companies have been paying medical professionals money in return for delivering lectures about their drugs and sitting on committees that create instructional guidelines about when and how to use such medicines. According to dozens of doctor interviews, most claimed these monetary gifts didn't effect their treatment and care of patients. However, research suggests that doctors who maintain a close relationship with drug manufacturers are more likely to prescribe newer and more expensive drugs regardless if it is a patient's best interests. read full article If you have any questions, concerns or comments regarding this newsletter please contact us. Consumer Drug Safety Review: Drug Manufacturers Issues More Positive Study Results Researchers examined 140 studies from 10 medical journals published in 1993, 1998, and 2003. They found that by 2003, drug manufacturers played a part in 57 percent of the clinical trials, an increase of 13 percent since 1993. According to the trade group PhRMA, its members funded more than $38 billion worth of drug research and development in 2004—surpassing the budget of the National Institute of Health. Of the industry-financed studies in 2003, researchers found that 84 percent had positive results, as opposed to 62 percent of those with no funding by drug makers. However, during that year, two out of three independently sponsored studies were randomized, compared to one out of three industry-financed studies, which helps confirm the results most likely aren't biased. Read More... Drug with Side Effects Ask A Legal QuestionAre you concerned about a drug you are currently taking? Would you like expert advice on your legal rights regarding a particular drug? Free Legal Consultation. Breaking News Permax Recalled Due to Heart Valve Damage April 2007After recent reports linked Permax—a popular Parkinson's Disease drug—to heart valve damage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pulled the drug off the market, citing that the risks far outweigh the benefits. Manufacturer, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, agreed to halt wholesale distribution of Permax (pergolide) after FDA reports indicated the drug can cause serious damage to the atrial, mitral, or tricuspid heart valves by causing them to leak. Read More... --------------