Drug Whistleblower Smeared by FDA
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Rarely do we get to look inside the tactics that Big Pharma is not afraid to use when threatened.
The case of the drug, Avandia which is prescribed to treat Type II Diabetes, largely a lifestyle disease that affects up to 20 million Americans. Data collected at the Cleveland Clinic shows Avandia users could have up to a 43% risk of heart attack and a sharp (64%) likelihood of an increase in heart- related disease. Blowing the whistle on the downside of this drug is the head of cardiology from the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Steven Nissan, who published his findings in the recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The FDA issued a Safety Alert concerning Avandia, sort of a soft way of saying "consumers watch out." Presumably doctors are paying attention too.
However now, Dr. Nissan says he is being publicly disparaged by a spokesman for the FDA, who previously worked in communications for a large pharmaceutical company. Dr. Nissan tells ABC News that e-mails that accuse the doctor of playing favorites with drug companies are being circulated to health and medical reporters.
"Using taxpayer dollars, a federal agency's press office, rather than responding to the scientific questions that I raised, attempting to smear me individually. It's unacceptable."
What's interesting here is the Chief of Cardiology, works with drug companies to develop new medications -- he's not a natural health, or alternative or even integrative medicine guy who routinely criticize anything Big Pharma. Dr. Nissan is not backing down from acting in the public interest. Good for him!