Mediator scandal rocks French medical community

According to some estimates, the drug-licensed as an add on for hyperlipidaemia and diabetes but also used off -label for obesity-caused between 500 and 2000 deaths during its tumultuous 33 years on the market. Frachon lists three main require ments of the new system: it needs to better separate pha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Lancet (British edition) 2011-03, Vol.377 (9769), p.890-892
Main Author:	Mullard, Asher
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Appetite Depressants - adverse effects Diabetes Drug Industry Fenfluramine - adverse effects Fenfluramine - analogs & derivatives France Heart Valve Diseases - chemically induced Humans Hypolipidemic Agents - adverse effects Internal Medicine Legislation, Drug Lobbyists Marketing Obesity Pharmaceuticals Regulatory reform Safety-Based Drug Withdrawals
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	According to some estimates, the drug-licensed as an add on for hyperlipidaemia and diabetes but also used off -label for obesity-caused between 500 and 2000 deaths during its tumultuous 33 years on the market. Frachon lists three main require ments of the new system: it needs to better separate pharmaceutical lobbyists from drug regulators; it needs to make better use of national insurance plan data; and it needs safeguards against political influence over regulatory decisions. "In spite of the sadness of the story, perhaps it will serve as a turning point, enabling the government to understand the risks that drugs can pose and facilitating a change in the regulatory system for the benefit of all citizens", he concludes.
ISSN:	0140-6736 1474-547X