SCI/TECH: Medical journal retracts allegations made about Prozac

The article that alleged the Prozac manufacturer Eli Lilly had covered up documents that highlighted dangers of the drug have been proven false. The medical journal BMJ has pulled the article and issued a apology to the drug maker. The January 1st article had pointed to "missing documents" during a 1994 liability trial as an effort to cover up side effects.



I have noticed that as of late it seems to be open season on the drug industry. Some of that is justified no doubt, but given the dog eat dog litigious society we are in its a wonder that anybody tries to make anything these days. If we stifle the very companies that we depend on for our lives in some cases, we are going to be in big trouble down the road.

Hmmm.

KEY INFO missing from your coverage Fred:

"That investigation has revealed that all of the documents supplied to the BMJ that were either Eli Lilly (Research) documents or were in the hands of Eli Lilly had in fact been disclosed during the suit,"

AND

"the British Medical Journal, did not retract its contention that the documents show the antidepressant is linked to increased risk of suicide or violence."

AND

"An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration in 1991 reviewed the data and concluded that Prozac was safe, though critics point out that several of the panelists had financial ties to Lilly.

They also note that other internal documents show that Lilly excluded 76 of 97 cases of reported suicidality from the data."

.....so the documents weren't missing ever, they do prove Prozac is dangerous, but the FDA panel with members tied to Prozac manufacturer Lilly decided the risks didn't matter...


HMMM.
format



[edit on 28-1-2005 by soficrow]