via DukeHealth.org:
Antipsychotic Drug May Be Linked to Pituitary (Tumors)
By Duke Medicine News and Communications
DURHAM, N.C. -- A link may exist between the development of pituitary tumors and the use of some drugs commonly used to treat schizophrenia, according to research from Duke University Medical Center and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although a connection has been suspected for more than 20 years, this is the first systematic study to document an association between specific antipsychotic medications and adverse reports of pituitary tumors in humans.
Of seven antipsychotic medications, risperidone (trade name Risperdal), was linked to 70 percent of pituitary tumors reported to the
FDA's Adverse Events Reporting System database. Risperidone is the most widely used medication within the class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics, which are used to treat schizophrenia, paranoia and manic-depressive disorders, according to the study authors.
The findings appear in the June 2, 2006 issue of
Pharmacotherapy. The study was funded by the author's respective research departments. Coauthors include lead author Ana Szarfman, Joseph Tonning and Jonathan Levine, all of the FDA.
The researchers cautioned that the study, although suggestive, does not prove that the medications actually cause pituitary tumors.
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via Forbes:
Erika Kelton, Contributor
I write about whistleblower matters involving fraud and other issues.
J&J needs a cure: new CEO allegedly had links to fraudA motion filed last week in a potential multi-billion healthcare fraud case against Johnson & Johnson provides another apparent example of
how to succeed in business without really complying.
The federal government states in a motion that Alex Gorsky, who is set to become Johnson & Johnson’s next chief executive officer this month, “was actively involved in matters at issue in this case,” which alleges Johnson & Johnson paid kickbacks to induce Omnicare, the nation’s largest nursing home pharmacy, to purchase and recommend Risperdal and other J&J drugs. Gorsky, the government says, “has firsthand knowledge of the alleged fraud.”
The government says Gorsky “also was involved in approving payments to Omnicare under the 2000 Consulting and Services Agreement,” which the government alleges were actually kickbacks.
The government wants to depose Gorsky as part of its litigation in the civil fraud case against Johnson & Johnson, which began with a whistleblower (“qui tam”) lawsuit that the government has joined. Johnson & Johnson is fighting the request.
From 1998 to 2003 – the time period covered by the government’s complaint — Gorsky was vice president of marketing for Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit then became president. He was responsible for selling Risperdal, a drug whose biggest customer was Omnicare, according to the government. Sales of Risperdal increased tremendously during that time.
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