You read it correctly. According to this article here, GSK acted in full knowledge that Avandia (a drug for Type 2 Diabetes treatment) was a high risk for heart attack incidents and took steps to suppress and intimidate researchers who had established this.
More info (PDF) here and probably one of the better bits of reporting on the subject here.
There are serious ethical, moral, and social issues here. Correction, this is SERIOUSLY wrong. How can anyone being asked to take any GSK drug have faith in their integrity with regard to testing to ensure that a drug will not result in harm more serious than their initial condition? On the basis of their behaviour over Avandia trials they cannot.
They have brought discredit to those good scientists and researchers who are ethical and who conduct proper and thorough testing that is fully reviewed and validated. Add this to the shambles of climate research, H1N1, (etc) and science/medicine is clearly going through a credibility patch.
The general population should be able to trust their government, their banks, their scientists, and their doctors. The past few years have seen a significant perception change in this and many other areas where there should be trust.
Shame on you GSK.

No comments:
Post a Comment