IPT and you Crybabies

[GeraldG]

There are just tons of sources. I've read hundreds of articles and several books on the issue. Some are emotional and poorly founded, others well documented and very specific.

Just google FDA conspiracy / corruption and start following the links.

Here's some recent news on the FDA corruption in the Vioxx scandal that led to as many as 10,000 deaths recently:

10 on FDA Vioxx panel had ties to companies
Report: Panelists given consulting fees, funding from drug makers

WASHINGTON - Ten members of the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel who voted that a group of powerful pain killers, including the controversial drug Vioxx, should continue to be sold had ties to the drug makers, a new analysis shows.

A study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest indicates that 10 of the 32 panel members had ties to either Pfizer Inc., or Merck & Co., ranging from consulting fees and speaking honoraria to receiving research support from the companies.

The FDA issued a statement saying it screened members of the panel for conflicts of interest. “This transparent process requires the agency to carefully weigh any potential financial interest with the need for essential scientific expertise in order to protect and advance the public health,” the agency said.

After three days of hearings on the drugs, known as Cox-2 inhibitors, the panel voted 31-1 to keep Pfizer’s Celebrex on the market, 17-13 with 2 abstentions in favor of Pfizer’s Bextra and 17-15 that Merck’s Vioxx should be allowed back on sale.

Merck pulled Vioxx from the market Sept. 30 after heart problems were reported in some users. Similar questions were later raised about the other two drugs, prompting the FDA to call the advisory panel to look into the matter.

Since drug companies fund many studies it is not unusual for researchers to have ties to manufacturers, though some have questioned the practice.

The transcript, including the votes by the individual members of the panel, has not yet been posted by the FDA. However, a copy obtained by The Associated Press indicated that the 10 panel members in question voted 10-0 in favor of keeping Celebrex and Bextra available and 9-1 in favor of allowing Vioxx to be brought back onto the market.

Without those ballots the vote would have been 13-7 in favor of withdrawing Bextra and 14-8 to keep Vioxx off sale.

The industry ties of the panel members were first reported Friday by The New York Times.

Source: Associated Press via http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7031927

Good! That's what I'm looking for...however, there are two flaws to the argument you present:

1. In this case the apparent problem is that the FDA was trying to KEEP approval for a drug, not to block approval. Your original argument against the FDA was that they try to block drugs from the market in order to keep people sick (if they cure everybody they run out of business...right?).

2. I haven't seen anything yet that shows criminal activity. The fact that some people are questioning the ties does NOT make it illegal.

 

[SlimShafty]

We think a lot a like Colin, I have been telling people about stuff like this and worse, most fail to understand. I actually stopped a friend of mine from taking the so called miracle drug Fen-Phen, to this day she still thanks me for saving her life.

Over medication has killed people I know or caused other medical problems with family members and the FDA or FTC doesn't put these corporations or doctors on a watch list, heck sometimes you barely hear about it in the news.

The story behind nutrasweet getting passed after being denied I think 5 times is a dilly, it's all about money, you must always look out for yourself in this world.

Like I say about the IPT, there is risk in everything, I have no problem with taking medications "KNOWING" the risks, I have a big problem with dangers being covered up or natural methods being suppressed in favor of corporate greed.

 

[chefjeff]

Good! That's what I'm looking for...however, there are two flaws to the argument you present:

1. In this case the apparent problem is that the FDA was trying to KEEP approval for a drug, not to block approval. Your original argument against the FDA was that they try to block drugs from the market in order to keep people sick (if they cure everybody they run out of business...right?).

2. I haven't seen anything yet that shows criminal activity. The fact that some people are questioning the ties does NOT make it illegal.

The U.S. Federal govt. doesn't have a right to regulate the drugs individuals use...that is, it isn't listed in the Constitution as one of its legitimate powers. Ergo, it is illegal in the biggest sense. Of course, the powers-that-be don't care about those "details." They bypass the law with cries of "helping the poor," "protecting the sick," "sticking it to the big, bad businesses," etc....any envy-based arguments that fool the citizens into giving up their liberties for "safety."

This unearned power is what pharmaceutical companies "buy" from the govt. via lobbyist in order to compete in today's controlled drug market. It really isn't much different than a South American or Mexican drug cartel using force to control their drug markets...except for the three piece suits and badges.

Jeff Livingston