BMJ apologises for Prozac accusations

pharmafile | February 2, 2005 | News story | Sales and Marketing  

The BMJ has retracted its allegations that Eli Lilly suppressed important safety information on its antidepressant drug Prozac during litigation in the 1990s.

The medical journal also issued a public apology regarding documents sent anonymously to its offices.

In December the BMJ published the documents which appeared to show Lilly had suppressed evidence that the drug could cause behavioural disturbances.

The BMJ had claimed the reviews and memos indicated Lilly knew of serious side-effects of the drug in the 1980s and sought to "minimise their likely negative effect on prescribing", something the company vigorously denied.

But the BMJ admitted all documents supplied to them – either belonging to Eli Lilly or in the hands of Eli Lilly – had been disclosed during the suit.

Prozac (fluoxetine) was the first in the SSRI class of drugs to reach the market in 1988, and is now off patent but is still prescribed generically to millions of patients worldwide.

Sidney Taurel, Lilly chairman, sounded a placatory note following the retraction and apology saying it "is an important step in gaining closure on this unfortunate event".

Previously, in an open letter, an angry Taurel said the BMJ had "needlessly spread fear among patients who take Prozac".

Despite the apology the BMJ's acting editor Dr Kamran Abbasi stressed that the documents raised crucial questions regarding Prozac's safety. In particular, information that the drug could cause symptoms of psychological "activation" such as agitation, nervousness and aggression in some patients.

Related links:

Lilly takes on BMJ over Prozac claims 

Thursday , January 20, 2005

 

 

 

 

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