News tagged with 'Pfizer'

Anxiety can be debilitating in children and adolescents. In this, the largest study to date, those in the cognitive therapy combined with Zoloft group, had the most improvement.

Chantix, the smoking cessation drug, and heparin top the list of the drugs most likely to cause death and injury as compiled by this watchdog group.  They represent just a tip of the iceberg.

Prizer today announced it's agreed to a $900 million settlement to address the bulk of the Celebrex and Bextra lawsuits filed. Bextra is off the market because of its link to heart attack and stroke. Celebrex carries a black box warning.

A lawsuit was filed against Pfizer alleging the company suppressed medical studies that did not support the company's campaign to boost sales of its epilepsy drug, Neurontin.

Emory University psychiatrist, Dr. Charles Nemeroff has been accused of breaking federal research rules by taking in $2.8 million from a drug company and not reporting half of the income. Sen. Charles Grassley is shaking up the rampant conflict-of-interest relationships between doctors and pharmaceutical makers.  Two drug companies say they will voluntarily disclose payments to doctors online next year.

Drug makers are suddenly eager to disclose their payments to doctors and researchers for consulting, and speaking services as a federal government disclosure act is close to becoming law. Consumers will have more information to make informed decisions about health care and influence.

Commonly prescribed drugs used for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increases the risk of deadly heart problems, according to a new study. But the drugs' marketers sharply disagree.

The jury is still out on a new, controversial osteoporosis drug Pfizer hopes to market. Fablyn may have some additional risk for cancer and was rejected by the FDA three years ago. Approval could mean $500 million a year for Pfizer. 

Pfizer pulled ads featuring Robert Jarvik six months ago after a Congressional investigation began into false and misleading advertising by the drug industry. Now actual patients will be used and expect to see more direct-to-customer ads for symptoms that don't have to spend precious ad time on the side effects of specific drugs. 

The Center for Public Integrity is reporting on the big bucks spent by Washington’s largest lobby – the pharmaceutical industry.  In 2007- an all time new record was spent to lobby Congress - $168 million, a 32 percent jump over the previous year. 

For years Parkinson's patients taking the drug Mirapex have noticed they developed compulsive behaviors such as gambling, eating, shopping, porn. Hundreds of lawsuits are on tap in Minnesota District Court, and the first one has been decided in favor of the plaintiff - $8.2 million.

A Pfizer executive's helicopter rides to work from her Maryland home has the company rethinking whether executive benefits at a time of job cuts is a good idea.  The executive reportedly has received a bill for $300,000 to cover the cushy commute. 

Patients are hurt by the conflicts-of-interest between drugmakers and doctors, who are not required to reveal that they are paid consultants for drug companies. Legislation to address the problem is pending.