Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19234

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

Benkimoun P
French drug journal is sued for criticising Protopic’s licence extension
BMJ 2011 Jan 11; 342:
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d158.extract

Abstract:

An independent French drug review journal is being sued for calling for the tacrolimus based ointment Protopic (made by Astellas) to be banned and for criticising the European Medicines Agency and French authorities for approving a recent extension of its licensed indications.

Astellas France claims that the journal, Prescrire ( Prescribe), was “malicious” in its interpretation of the safety data on Protopic. Prescrire denies the charges. The drug company’s complaint was heard by 17th section of the Paris civil court, which specialises in libel cases involving newspapers, on 5 …