And do tell us about statins.
In the early 2000s I met up with an ex-researcher who had come from a top 5 Pharma from overseas - I learnt a lot about Statins and what was in the public domain and what was not. Some predictions were made about what MAY come out in the next two or three years given what that person knew.
Here is a more recent update on some of what has come out since...
The first Lipitor trial, scheduled for next July before U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, will be one of several so-called "bellwethers" used to gauge the strength of other cases. If Pfizer prevails, it could persuade plaintiffs to accept smaller settlements or drop cases.
Pfizer could also opt to settle before a single case is tried to avoid possible negative exposure or to prevent potentially damaging information from coming to light.
If past settlements are any guide, Pfizer's potential exposure could be substantial. Bayer, the maker of one-time rival statin Baycol, paid $1 billion in 2005 to settle about 3,000 cases alleging the drug caused rhabdomyolysis, a disease that breaks down muscle tissue. Baycol was pulled from the market in 2001 after being linked to 31 deaths.
In 2011 AstraZeneca said it would pay $647 million to resolve most of the 28,000 lawsuits it faced alleging its antipsychotic Seroquel caused diabetes and other injuries.
Also something I uncovered (personally) unfortunately is a drug being used in estimated 80%+ of all nursing homes/retirement homes in Australia is a drug ONLY LICENSED for use for teenage psychotics by the FDA. Johnson & Johnson marketed in the US (and worldwide) for use by elderly - or rather use ON elderly to boost their profits as the teenage psychotic market was simply not big enough.
These drugs are more or less banned for use on elderly or high blood pressure or stroke survivors etc overseas. Many hundreds of millions in fines later and criminal cases in the US - they are used everyday in Australia - RIGHT NOW.
J.&J. to Pay $2.2 Billion in Risperdal Settlement - The New York Times
www.nytimes.com/.../johnson-johnson-to-settle-risperdal-impro...
The New York Times
Nov 4, 2013 - The agreement is the third-largest pharmaceutical settlement in
United States history and the largest in a string of recent
cases involving the ...
The agreement is the third-largest pharmaceutical settlement in United States history and the largest in a string of recent cases involving the marketing of antipsychotic and anti-seizure drugs to older dementia patients. It is part of a decade-long effort by the federal government to hold the health care giant — and other pharmaceutical companies —
accountable for illegally marketing the drugs as a way to control patients with dementia in nursing homes and children with certain behavioral disabilities,
despite the health risks of the drugs.
The drug, the company claimed, could address symptoms that made treating these patients a challenge,
especially in a nursing home setting, including
agitation, confusion, hostility and impulsiveness. The company’s sales brochures highlighted these symptoms and
minimized the fact that the drug was approved to treat schizophrenia, according to federal documents.
Federal officials said the company knew that
Risperdal posed serious health risks for older adults, like an increased risk of strokes, but it played them down.
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Called
Risperidone or Risperdal - nurses and nursing home staff commonly call them 'happy pills' - "
it makes the staff happy as the resident becomes a veg for the night so we don't have any work to do." - Exact quote of what the RN told me when I confronted her after the 9th dose in 6 days after my mother went to top ranked nursing home. In Australia it can be used for ANY elderly resident apparently.
In causing a fuss where my mother was - talking with other families there - uncovered 21 others (also without dementia) who were given it 'to aid their sleeping'. Coincidentally - following near complete ban by families of its use - there were no deaths at that facility for 15 months - vs 3 a month before. After the 15 month period it averaged 1-2 a month for next year or so.
My mother's admission to this highly ranked/recommended place followed being discharged from Prince of Wales as 'nothing wrong with you' despite her medical background and presenting herself as "I think I am having a stroke. I have pain radiating up and down the right side of my body." Head of Neurology signed her out and less than ten minutes later she suffered a severe stroke that left her right side paralysed, no speech etc. For good measure, as she fell with the stroke - she hit a solid wooden table and broke her hip. Despite asking/begging/demanding for nearly three months for her to be X-rayed as clear she hit the table on the way down (moved several inches from its position - it turned out that they had never bothered despite head of PoW Neurology telling me in front of of PoW Legal team that it had been done, he'd seen it and there was no breaks. I countered, that I'd been asking to see it for nearly 3 months - they had "10 minutes before the TV cameras would be summoned and A Current Affair would be asking to see them."
Legal team strongly suggested:
- I calm down - actually I was nearly whispering (a favourite technique taught in early 80s on how to make people listen)
- No need to involve any third party
- Professor should supply the x-rays immediately
Ten minutes later, "I am confused. It appears that no x-rays have ever actually been done....."
All up I uncovered/discovered:
- An illegal/unsanctioned drug trial being conducted without permission on female stroke patients using a drug NOT RECOMMENDED for use on stroke patients.
- Opiods prescribed against strict prohibition by families (due to adverse reactions previously) and despite wearing armband warning against prescription.
- Regular blood testing required for some 'strong' drugs not done at all over a 15 month period
to name just a few. Unfortunately too many people want to believe that all doctors really know or care what they are doing. The reality unfortunately is different.
Just as I recommend when ringing a call centre - when dealing with the medical fraternity - take a notebook, date, time, name and write down whatever you think is relevant. Makes a big difference to the degree of care that ends up being taken.
My problem, unfortunately, was not knowing every question to ask.
My mother should have been having the 6 weekly blood tests.
. 
