Drug Research
LACK OF PROTECTION WITH REGARDS TO ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND CHILDREN – (10-20-04)
Failing the Public Health — Rofecoxib, Merck, and the FDA
By now everyone has heard that Merck pulled it’s blockbuster drug from the market. Not a big surprise, since it was mentioned here at least 3 years ago (October 2001, Research Updates) that there were cardiac issues with the selective COX-2 inhibitors. There was clearly a failure of the FDA to protect the public in this situation. But we have also recently seen the same lack of protection with regards to antidepressants and children. It is the almighty dollar that rules here, but the general public still believes that the FDA is really out there with our best interests at heart. So, they pull ephedra, possibly linked to a handful of deaths when used INAPPROPRIATELY, but take years to pull off drugs, used APPROPRIATELY, off the market.
NEJM — Failing the Public Health — Rofecoxib, Merck, and the FDA
