UK drug regulators are upset after finding out that drug maker GlaxoSmithKline withheld a study from the public that showed their own anti-depressant Seroxat (AKA Paxil) increased the risk of suicide in teenagers by an amazing 6 TIMES! GlaxoSmithKline conducted the study in the hopes of being able to prescribe the drug to teens, but then filed it off in a dark corner of the company's library when the horrendous results appeared. British law only requires drug companies to show a drug study if it impacts any group for which the drug is or will be recommended. Since GlaxoSmithKline had not (yet) suggested that Seroxat/Paxil be prescribed to teens, they were free to shred the study. However, in the UK as in the US, doctors can prescribe drugs 'off-label' to anyone they think might benefit. It's unclear how many teens have been prescribed the drug, but the number is likely in the tens of thousands.
UK regulators are preparing to change the law to make all studies available to regulators. We'll see. Something tells me the lobbyists will have their say (Link to AP story).
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Once again, a foreign country has to find and bring to the attention of the public serious health issues associated with US drugs. Why are these results so difficult for US agencies and researchers to uncover? Why despite easy access to the drugs and ample research dollars? The answer lies in the incestuous relationship between pharmaceutical companies and US researchers and the FDA. Money has bought their silence.
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