Zantac Lawsuit


Researching drug company and regulatory malfeasance for over 16 years
Humanist, humorist

Monday, December 12, 2011

GSK - Absolutely Jabulous



I wasn't going to write about this but with various emails and messages on social networks telling me about it I thought I'd better, at least, offer a small snapbyte for cyberspace.

Once again it would appear that GlaxoSmithKline are swimming that great river of Egypt [Denial ~ The Nile] with regard to their Pandemrix vaccine [flu-jab] and its link to narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that causes excessive sleepiness and frequent daytime sleep attacks.

Today's Mail Online is reporting that 6 year old Josh Hadfield is still suffering from the after effects of the controversial jab.

"I’m up with him around four times each night to feed him snacks and also comfort him because he has horrendous nightmares," she said. "He used to be sent home from school every time he fell asleep but now they have set aside an area in his classroom where he can take a nap."

Worringly, the Mail Online is reporting that young Josh is now taking the antipsychotic Ritalin and other antidepressants.

So, let's get this straight. A 6 year old is given a flu jab, he has an adverse reaction to it, a reaction that is so horrendous that he sleeps for most of the day, his school even allow him to take a nap. To combat this, young Josh is given a powerful antipsychotic and, according to the Mail Online, antidepressants, medication that has not been recommended for use in children.

Amazing isn't it. I don't know why they just don't stick young Josh in a glass box with a hamster wheel and some straw.

The story of Josh appeared in the Mail Online back in April this year, it's unknown if he was taking Ritalin and antidepressants back then.

GlaxoSmithKline's Dr Pim Kon, said: "There is currently no evidence at all to suggest there is a causal link between Pandemrix and narcolepsy." She added that GSK are working hard with the regulatory authorities to try to understand what is happening.

Dr Pim Kon is no stranger to controversy. Last year she told the InPharma magazine that European regulators [EMA] were wrong to withdraw its diabetes drug Avandia from the market. Avandia was suspended by the EMA last year because of high levels of heart attack, heart failure and strokes in patients.

I've briefly touched on Glaxo's Pandemrix Vaccine in the past on this blog.

Back in 2009 Switzerland medicine regulators, Swissmedic, restricted the use of Pandemrix because they had not recieved enough data about it. In a statement they announced, that they had received data on the vaccine for adults, but not for pregnant women and very little data for children. "For this reason, Swissmedic has not yet authorised the administration of Pandemrix to pregnant women, children under the age of 18 and adults over 60."


It's unclear whether or not Swissmedic later authorised the use of Pandemrix in children.

Also in 2009 The Environmental Illness Resource announced that Glaxo's Pandemrix vaccine was unsafe to use in those that had environmental illnesses. The full statement can be read HERE.

In 2010 I highlighted a story that had made the Finnish press. According to Nelonen (Channel 4) news, the Chancellor of Justice was investigating if bribery was used in the Pandemrix vaccine trade.

The Nelonen (Channel 4) news reported that the the investigation had begun because two individuals had reported their suspicions to the Chancellor. The investigation targeted the Ministry of Health and THL, National Instute for Health and Welfare. THL had received more than six million euros last year from GlaxoSmithKline, which manufactures Pandemrix. THL has also had a key role in the decision to order Pandemrix to every Finnish inhabitant.

Ironically, the study that now has Glaxo and the medicine health regulators in a tizz stems from Finland. In what seems to be a massive U-Turn, the Finnish government said it accepted a link between Pandemrix and narcolepsy and has promised compensation and support for affected families.

So, nothing to do with the 2010 expose then? I wonder whatever did come of that investigation?

A cynic, Moi?


Watch a special investigation into the Pandemrix/Narcoplepsy link on BBC IPlayer HERE

Fid


ORDER THE PAPERBACK 'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman US and CANADA HERE OR UK HERE


AUSTRALIAN ORDERS HERE

**Correction: Ritalin is, of course an amphetamine and not an antipsychotic. [Thanks Judy for noticing the error]


No comments:


Please contact me if you would like a guest post considered for publication on my blog.