Saundersblog.com - September 2005 Archives

September 2005

Merck Exec Feared Vioxx Sales Drop if Warning Label Was Placed on Vioxx Product (08:56) - A top Merck executive testified yesterday that the Vioxx manufacturer feared as much as a $500 million drop in sales if regulators had succeeded in placing an unfavorable warning on the Vioxx label three years ago. David Anstice,who headed Merck's... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

FDA Says Defibrillator Defects Increasing (10:14) - The number of defects present in implantable defibrillators is rising at a dangerous pace, according to joint research Harvard Medical School and the Food and Drug Administration. The study suggests that the recent recalls by defibrillator manufacturers such as Guidant,... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Guidant Issues Pacemaker Alerts (10:06) - Guidant Corp. warned doctors Thursday of more problems with some of its pacemakers, saying at least 10 people have been hospitalized because of flaws in some essential functions. The alert involves Guidant's Insignia and Nexus lines of pacemakers. The NY... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Vioxx Deadly Even With Short Term Use, Expert Testifies (10:00) - An expert witness testified Thursday that even short term use of the painkiller Vioxx can double the risk of heart attach and death, a finding that the drug's manufacturer Merck & Co. misrepresented. University of Washington biostatistician Richard Kronmal said... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Pope Benedict XVI Approves Ban on Gay Seminarians (14:21) - In a story published in Catholic World News today, Pope Benedict XVI has signed off on a document banning homosexuals from studying for the priesthood. The document is seen as a response to the priest abuse crisis that has dominated... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Laveranues Coles' Revelation of Childhood Abuse Took Courage (10:58) - I'd imagine that childhood sexual abuse will get a lot of attention this week after Laveranues Coles' revealed he had been the victim of sexual abuse. The popular receiver for the NY Jets came forward last week so that others... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Second Week of Second Vioxx Trial (09:44) - As the second week of the nation's second Vioxx trial prepares to open in New Jersey this week, Merck's lawyers continue their obfuscation and "don't confuse me with the facts" campaign. Last week, Merck's lead lawyer was reprimanded by the... | 0 Comments
Medtronic to Release Malfunction Data Beyond FDA (09:37) - Medtronic, the nation's biggest manufacturer of heart devices, has said that it was considering making available to doctors and patients some of the datat concerning product malfunctions that until now only provided to federal regulators. Currently, manufacturers of devices like... | 0 Comments

FDA Will Report on Defribillators (19:39) - The FDA is expected to release a new study showing that implantable heart defibrillators have been malfunctioning at an increasing rate. The study found that defibrillator malfunctions were directly responsible for 61 confirmed deaths. This study will be released in... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Ford Recalls 3.8 million Pickups and SUVs due to engine fire concerns (13:15) - Ford just announced the recall of 3.8 million of its pickup trucks and SUVs due to concerns over engine fire concerns. Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday recalled 3.8 million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles for a cruise control switch... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Bankrupt Church or Church Bankruptcy (12:29) - The following is an excellent editorial in the National Catholic Reporter: EDITORIAL Issue Date: September 9, 2005 Bankruptcy: the gamble that backfired Words matter. More for a church than for other institutions because religion purports to be about truth. These... | 0 Comments
4 Things Vioxx Maker Merck Doesn't Want You To See (12:12) - One week before its second trial is about to begin, Merck lawyers are trying to block jurors from seeing the following information: 1)FDA researchers estimated Vioxx deaths, 2)Picture of the plaintiff prior to taking Vioxx, 3)Merck's profits, and 4)Merck executives'... | 0 Comments

Merck Faces Vioxx Heart Attack Case (09:04) - In the wake of Merck's disastrous first trial in Texas last month, the embattled pharmaceutical company faces a trial in New Jersey that involves a plaintiff that suffered a heart attack which is precisely the injury to which Vioxx use... | 0 Comments