Sunday, November 07, 2004

WHAT DID THE FDA KNOW AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT??? Problems at vaccine plant were pervasive; FDA knew in 1999! American regulators knew five years ago that contamination at the now-infamous vaccine plant in Liverpool, England, was both pervasive and persistent, documents show. In fact, evidence was so overwhelming that regulators should have shut down the plant or sought alternative flu vaccine sources long ago, say some vaccine and pharmaceutical experts who have reviewed the documents. Instead, the United States has lost 48 million doses of flu vaccine — half its supply — after British regulators found more contamination and suspended the plant's license last month. Documents obtained by The Kansas City Star show the Food and Drug Administration five years ago noted that the plant, then owned by the British firm Medeva, had failed to correct longstanding problems. But the agency continued to allow the plant to supply the U.S. market despite clear departures from what the agency calls “Good Manufacturing Practices.” http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10118184.htm http://www.newswithviews.com/Ellison/shane10.htm 4:54:47 PM    comment [] VIOXX COVER-UP! Merck caught in scandal to bury Vioxx heart attack risks, intimidate scientists and keep pushing dangerous drugs; lawsuits forming The truth has finally come out about Vioxx: insider emails published by the Wall Street Journal reveal that Merck, the maker of Vioxx, was fully aware of the health risks of its COX-2 inhibitor anti-inflammatory drug as early as March, 2000. As is apparent from the published emails, there was a concerted effort to bury the negative evidence and even distort the drug trials by excluding heart patients from the Vioxx studies so that, "...the rate of cardiovascular problems for Vioxx patients would not be evident." http://www.newstarget.com/002155.html 4:46:20 PM    comment [] HOW ABOUT A MEDICAL CHECKUP AT THE CHECKOUT COUNTER? No joke - Medical care is coming to supermarkets. Consumers who think the supermarket is the place for a head of lettuce or an ear of corn may soon find another option -- miniature health clinics set up to treat minor ailments like head colds and ear infections. Several grocery outlets such as Target's superstores, Cub Foods and Kroger, have started offering a nurse practitioner at some of their stores to diagnose and treat low-level medical problems. http://www.indystar.com/articles/0/192414-7180-223.html 4:22:59 PM    comment []

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