Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16381

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Moynihan R
Drug Safety: Battle over popular bone drug Fosamax bursts into court
BMJ 2009 08 06;
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/339/aug06_1/b3155

Abstract:

A spring evening back in May 1996 was something of a high point for the folks at the global drug company Merck. Three American television networks ran news stories celebrating Merck’s latest blockbuster to fight brittle bones-Fosamax, whose generic name is alendronic acid (or alendronate sodium).

Reporters told tens of millions of viewers that the recently approved drug could cut the risk of a hip fracture in half, and one report described this as “almost miraculous.“1The televangelism proved both efficacious and prophetic: in the years since, the drug became one of Merck’s top selling products, with sales in excess of $3bn (£1.8bn; 2.1bn) annually for several years during the past decade.

Next week, in a district court room not too far away from those same network studios, Merck is scheduled to face the first trial involving its golden goose alendronic acid before Judge John Keenan of the southern district . . .