BTL:Failures on Drug Safety and Conflicts of Interest Shake Confidence in FDA

Interview with Linda Marsa, journalist and author, conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris <!--break--> Failures on Drug Safety and Conflicts of Interest Shake Confidence in FDA Interview with Linda Marsa, journalist and author, conducted by Scott Harris Before its recall, the painkiller Vioxx had been used by more than two million people in more than 80 countries. But Merck & Co., the maker of Vioxx withdrew the drug in September after studies confirmed earlier indications that the painkiller increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and death. Since then other drugs, including the painkiller Celebrex and the attention disorder medicine Strattera have come under scrutiny. But, more importantly, confidence in the regulatory process supervised by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration has been shaken. The FDA reports that adverse drug reactions among Americans has more than doubled from 1995 to 2003 -- and risen by more than fourfold since 1990. Questions have been raised about the standards used by the FDA in testing the safety of new drugs and about the regulatory agency's relationship with the pharmaceutical industry it monitors. The recent announcement by the drug-maker's top lobby group, PhRMA, that its new president would be retiring 13-term Republican Congressman Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, who chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee, further raised alarm about the revolving door between government and industry. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with journalist and author Linda Marsa, who examines the recall of drugs like Vioxx, and the relationship between the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry. Linda Marsa's article, "Sleep For Sale," can be read online at www.motherjones.com. Marsa's 1997 book about the pharmaceutical industry, "Prescription for Profits," is published by Scribner. LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below: http://www.btlonline.org * "Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org * "Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October). * For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net * For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net * betweenthelines@snet.net * http://www.squeakywheel.net/ * Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. (c)2005 Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

<p>Interview with Linda Marsa, journalist and author, conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris</p> <!--break--><p>Failures on Drug Safety and Conflicts of Interest Shake Confidence in FDA</p> <p>Interview with Linda Marsa, journalist and author, conducted by Scott Harris</p> <p>Before its recall, the painkiller Vioxx had been used by more than two million people in more than 80 countries. But Merck &amp; Co., the maker of Vioxx withdrew the drug in September after studies confirmed earlier indications that the painkiller increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and death. Since then other drugs, including the painkiller Celebrex and the attention disorder medicine Strattera have come under scrutiny.</p> <p>But, more importantly, confidence in the regulatory process supervised by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration has been shaken. The FDA reports that adverse drug reactions among Americans has more than doubled from 1995 to 2003 -- and risen by more than fourfold since 1990. Questions have been raised about the standards used by the FDA in testing the safety of new drugs and about the regulatory agency's relationship with the pharmaceutical industry it monitors. The recent announcement by the drug-maker's top lobby group, PhRMA, that its new president would be retiring 13-term Republican Congressman Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, who chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee, further raised alarm about the revolving door between government and industry.</p> <p>Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with journalist and author Linda Marsa, who examines the recall of drugs like Vioxx, and the relationship between the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry.</p> <p>Linda Marsa's article, "Sleep For Sale," can be read online at <a href="http://www.motherjones.com">www.motherjones.com</a>. Marsa's 1997 book about the pharmaceutical industry, "Prescription for Profits," is published by Scribner.</p> <p>LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:</p> <p><a href="http://www.btlonline.org">http://www.btlonline.org</a><br /> *<br /> "Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: <a href="http://www.btlonline.org">http://www.btlonline.org</a><br /> *<br /> "Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).<br /> *<br /> For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to <a href="mailto:btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net">btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net</a><br /> *<br /> For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&amp;A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to <a href="mailto:btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net">btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net</a><br /> *<br /> <a href="mailto:betweenthelines@snet.net">betweenthelines@snet.net</a><br /> *<br /> <a href="http://www.squeakywheel.net/">http://www.squeakywheel.net/</a><br /> *<br /> Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc.<br /> (c)2005 Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.</p>