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Newer Drugs Twice as Likely to Injure
August 6, 2008
New research suggests that Americans will be subjected to drug injury1 for some time to come, based on flaws in the ways new drugs are tested and approved by the FDA. The problem is serious, with newer drugs causing twice as many drug injuries and deaths as older drugs approved for the same purpose.
This problem has been going on since 1992 when the FDA started taking money from Big Pharma so as to fast track the drug approval process – which is more akin to buying protection from the mob than to drug safety. Real safety has been tossed to the wind – and actual effectiveness of drugs is an afterthought. In fact, the situation is so bad that there is not one drug on the market today, released within the last 15 years, that has an accurate risk-benefit profile. In many cases the drug companies are actively hiding the risks, waiting for lawsuits, and simply assuming they can make more money selling the drug than the liability the lawsuits will cost. Concern about the wellbeing of patients takes a distant second place to profits.
It is no small wonder that Senators announced last week they would once again seek major FDA reforms following the next election. We’ll see if they have any better luck than last year’s dismal attempt that only made the FDA worse.
This problem has been going on since 1992 when the FDA started taking money from Big Pharma so as to fast track the drug approval process – which is more akin to buying protection from the mob than to drug safety. Real safety has been tossed to the wind – and actual effectiveness of drugs is an afterthought. In fact, the situation is so bad that there is not one drug on the market today, released within the last 15 years, that has an accurate risk-benefit profile. In many cases the drug companies are actively hiding the risks, waiting for lawsuits, and simply assuming they can make more money selling the drug than the liability the lawsuits will cost. Concern about the wellbeing of patients takes a distant second place to profits.
It is no small wonder that Senators announced last week they would once again seek major FDA reforms following the next election. We’ll see if they have any better luck than last year’s dismal attempt that only made the FDA worse.
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