Today I found out that just as George Merck was wrong when he opined upon the relationship between drug companies and profit, I was wrong when I opined about drug companies and the pursuit of science. They don't need no stinking science. From ABC news comes this tale of unrestrained capitalism:
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-IA, was sent home empty-handed today by federal health officials who refused the powerful Republican access to information on a controversial drug approved by the FDA.
Grassley has been investigating why FDA officials approved the sale of the antibiotic Ketek even after the government learned safety tests on the drug had been forged. Grassley wanted to speak with the FDA investigator who uncovered the fraud.
A former nurse, Michelle Snedeker, told ABC News she was ordered to forge documents and report data on people who had not even been given Ketek. The doctor was paid $400 for each of the 407 subjects that she enrolled for the study.
OK, this is my favorite part:
The maker of Ketek, Sanofi-Aventis, says "the benefit of Ketek outweighs any known risk."
Well, yeah, when you FORGE SAFETY TESTS the "known safety risks" may be a wee bit lower than reality.....am I the only person who can see a possible connection between the FORGED SAFETY TESTS and this?
According to an FDA document obtained by ABC News, there have been reports of four deaths and 35 liver failures or serious injuries among people taking the drug,
Christ on a cracker. Your government has your back though, as the story goes on to say:
An FDA spokesman said the agency was considering the addition of a warning label on the outside package of the prescription drug.
A warning label. Thank God. I'm Going to go beat my head aginst the wall for awhile.....
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