Most of us have been affected by drunken driving in some way – whether through personal experience or through our acquaintance with someone else’s personal experience – and yet it continues to occur despite our awareness of the problem. In a society where it’s always “5 o’clock somewhere,” the legal ramifications of drinking and driving are well established, and...
Continue Reading2013 — In 2013, the FDA was still investigating the link between incretin mimetics and pancreatic disease. They released a drug safety communication reporting the possibility of incretin mimetics increasing the risk of pancreatitis as well as causing pre-cancerous changes in the pancreas. They also cited a study, which was unpublished at the time, that found how the use...
Continue ReadingAugust 2013 — In August 2013, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred the first 53 cases against Merck, Amylin, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to MDL No. 2452. The original cases came from state courts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Since all of the lawsuits claim the drugs caused pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, the...
Continue Reading2013 — The medical journal Cornea describes a case in which a 63-year-old man experienced a reactivation of his keratitis after having the Zostavax vaccine. References: Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Approved Products – Zostavax.” Internet Archive Wayback Machine, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170722150959/https:/www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm136941.htm. Hwang, Charles W, et al. “Reactivation of Herpes Zoster Keratitis in an...
Continue ReadingMay 2012 – A study published in the Annals of Oncology revealed that, of the 20 female participants who received Taxotere, 19 developed permanent hair loss. One participant who was being treated for recurrent breast cancer had previously undergone chemotherapy with a different drug and had complete hair regrowth, but after using Taxotere, she suffered from permanent hair loss....
Continue ReadingMarch 2011 — A label change was required by the FDA to include data supporting use for individuals from the ages of 50-59. Reference: Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Approved Products – Zostavax.” Internet Archive Wayback Machine, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170722150959/https:/www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm136941.htm.
Continue Reading2011 — A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology reveals that Zostavax vaccine likely leads to retinal necrosis. References: Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Approved Products – Zostavax.” Internet Archive Wayback Machine, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170722150959/https:/www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm136941.htm. Charkoudian, Leon D. “Acute Retinal Necrosis After Herpes Zoster Vaccination.” Archives of Ophthalmology, JAMA Network, 1 Nov. 2011, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/1106674.
Continue ReadingDecember 2010 – A release of documents from the Sanofi-funded GEICAM 9805 study revealed that around 9.2% of patients suffered hair loss that lasted more than a decade. Reference: “Taxotere Lawsuit – Permanent Hair Loss and Illegal Marketing.” Drugwatch.com, 20 Apr. 2020, www.drugwatch.com/taxotere/lawsuits/
Continue Reading2010 — A 50-year-old woman endured the worsening of her keratitis after being vaccinated with Zostavax. References: Zostavax.” Internet Archive Wayback Machine, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170722150959/https:/www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodvaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm136941.htm. Khalifa, Yousuf M. “Exacerbation of Zoster Interstitial Keratitis After Zoster Vaccination in an Adult.” Archives of Ophthalmology, JAMA Network, 1 Aug. 2010, www.jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/426103.
Continue Reading2007: The Food and Drug Administration first raised concern about incretin mimetics in 2007. They warned that incretin mimetics, especially exenatide (Byetta and Byuderon) and sitagliptin (Janumet and Januvia), could cause pancreatic diseases. The warning followed reports that a rising number of incretin mimetics users were being diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Reference: “FDA Investigating Reports of...
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