Merck's profits fell 90 percent as it set aside $950 million to settle a criminal investigation into Vioxx research and marketing, on top of $4.85 billion paid in 2007. The piece draws a parallel to Pfizer's $2.3 billion fine over Bextra, Lyrica and two other drugs.
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Drug
Prescription drugs, vaccines and their risks and benefits.
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Drug
Spiral CT cuts lung cancer death risk in heavy smokers
In an NCI-funded trial of more than 53,000 smokers aged 55 to 74, those screened with low-dose spiral CT were 20 percent less likely to die of lung cancer than those given chest x-rays, with 354 lung cancer deaths versus 442. All-cause mortality was 7 percent lower.
Drug
Drug induced deaths in the U.S. - CDC report
CDC QuickStats show age-adjusted drug-induced death rates generally rose for every racial group from 1999 to 2007, up 80 percent overall, 97.1 percent among whites and 65.8 percent among American Indians and Alaska Natives, while the Hispanic rate fell 5.8 percent.
Drug
Blood on Their Hands: The World’s Slickest Con Job and a Stack of Deadly LIES
Mercola traces the US childhood vaccine schedule from four vaccines in the 1950s to as many as 37 doses of 14 vaccines by age two, and argues the diseases it covers have stayed stable, citing Robert Sears's 2007 case counts.
Drug
New Proof that This Common Medical Treatment is Unnecessary and Ineffective
Dr. Mercola argues the previous season's swine flu proved milder than warned, that only 90 million of 170 million US vaccine doses ordered were used, and questions the safety evidence behind advice that everyone over six months old get a flu shot every year for life.
Drug
Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria in Haiti
Microscopy was the only malaria test approved in Haiti's national policy but was often limited by missing equipment or trained staff. After a field assessment with CDC, the health ministry approved rapid diagnostic tests, widening access to diagnosis and surveillance.
Drug
FDA Rejects Weight Loss Drug Qnexa
The FDA declined to approve Vivus's weight loss drug Qnexa, asking for more data on birth defect risk and increased heart rate. An advisory committee had already recommended against it on safety grounds. Qnexa combines phentermine and topiramate, each with its own known adverse effects.
Drug
Pregnant Women Need a Flu Shot!
Pregnancy alters the immune system, heart and lungs, making severe flu illness, hospitalization and even death more likely, and raising the chance of miscarriage or preterm birth. A flu shot protects the mother and her baby up to 6 months old; the nasal spray is not for pregnant women.
Drug
Drinking Coffee May Cut Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk
Among 1,141 American Indian adults with normal glucose tolerance followed 7.6 years, those drinking 12 or more cups of coffee a day had 67 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes. A significant reduction showed up only at that level of consumption.
Drug
Unsafe at any dose: Hormone therapy boosts cancer death risk
A JAMA report finds hormone therapy raises the chance of dying from breast cancer, not only of developing it; the estrogen-plus-progestin combination was already tied to a 26 percent higher risk. An accompanying editorial questions even the lowest-dose, shortest-time advice.
Drug
Hormone therapy boosts breast cancer death risk - new study
Re-analysis of Women's Health Initiative data on 16,608 postmenopausal women found those assigned estrogen plus progestin for about 5.6 years were 25 percent more likely to develop invasive breast cancer over 11 years of follow-up, and more likely to die of the disease.
Drug
Hormone therapy boosts risk of breast cancer death
In the Women's Health Initiative, 16,608 postmenopausal women took estrogen plus progestin or placebo for about 5.6 years and were tracked 11 years. Those on hormone therapy were 25 percent more likely to develop invasive breast cancer, and were more likely to die of the disease.
Drug
Anti-osteoporosis drugs bisphosphonates may help reduce breast cancer risk?
A Journal of Clinical Oncology study of 4,039 postmenopausal Israeli women found those on bisphosphonates for more than a year had 28 percent lower breast cancer risk after adjustment. It was not a trial, so something else linked to the drugs could explain the difference.
Drug
FDA warns against chelation products
The FDA sent warning letters to companies selling over-the-counter chelation products advertised as treatments for autism, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The agency calls the claims unapproved and unsubstantiated, and ties the products to dehydration, kidney failure and death.
Drug
FDA Okays Anti-wrinkle Botox for Migraine Headache
The FDA approved Botox injections on October 14 to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine, defined as headache on more than 14 days a month. An FDA neurology official called chronic migraine one of the most disabling forms of headache.
Drug
Chest compression-only CPR better for cardiac arrest patients
A Washington University meta-analysis in The Lancet pooled three studies of more than 3,700 cardiac arrest patients and found survival improved by 22 percent when 911 dispatchers told bystanders to give chest compressions only rather than conventional CPR.
Drug
Are Soldiers Suicides Caused by Prescription Drugs?
Martha Rosenberg sets the Army's 2009 toll, 160 active-duty suicides and 1,713 attempts, against an 85 percent rise since 2003 in psychoactive drug use among troops aged 18 to 34, noting the antidepressants and anticonvulsants dispensed all carry suicide warnings.
Drug
Abbott Removes Weight Loss Pill Meridia Due to Heart Risk - FDA
The FDA asked Abbott on October 8 to withdraw the obesity drug Meridia and the company agreed, after the SCOUT trial found patients taking sibutramine were 16 percent more likely to suffer serious heart events than those on placebo, with only a small difference in weight loss.
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