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Congressman Calls for FDA Chief Resignation
February 16, 2008
In the face of mounting drug scandals and perjured congressional testimony, a key House Democrat, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), told the Associated Press that FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach should step down. Stupak sites a “total lack of leadership” as it becomes plainly apparent that the FDA is unable to protect Americans from the dangers of drugs or ensure a safe food supply. The most troubling issue regarding FDA leadership is that many of these issues are due to gross negligence or taking the side of drug companies at the expense of human health.
In a recent detailed article I explained how von Eschenbach has helped cover the trail of FDA wrongdoing with the antibiotic Ketek. The FDA allowed Ketek on the market, knowing millions of Americans would take the drug for common infections, even though it knew the drug was going to cause liver failure and consequent deaths. Von Eschenbach lied to Congress to cover up FDA wrongdoing during the approval process, which is a primary reason why Stupak is so upset with him.
In the past few days another FDA scandal has emerged. In December of 2007 numerous reports of severe reactions to a blood thinner, Heparin (made by Baxter International), including 4 deaths began to surface. Outrage hit Congress when it was discovered a key component of the drug was being produced in China and the FDA had violated its own rules by not inspecting the Chinese plant. Even when the reports came in the FDA simply dragged its feet. Heparin is needed in high amounts by those on kidney dialysis.
This news comes at a time of numerous other drug-related scandals like Vytorin (cholesterol) and Avandia (diabetes) have drawn major news headlines. In a breaking news story a prominent researcher has announced that 22,000 lives could have been saved if the FDA had acted in a timely matter on the heart by-pass drug. Trasylol. This is part of a story that will run on 60 Minutes (Feb 17). I have reported on the Trasylol scandal in the past and clearly explained how von Eschenbach covered for Bayer – even when Bayer was caught red-handed hiding death data from the FDA! Von Eschenbach’s support of Bayer, a move designed to reduce lawsuits, cost 22,000 American lives.
It is unlikely von Eschenbach will make it through next week. Then the question becomes – will anyone hold him accountable or will he simply move on to a seven figure salary in Big Pharma?
In a recent detailed article I explained how von Eschenbach has helped cover the trail of FDA wrongdoing with the antibiotic Ketek. The FDA allowed Ketek on the market, knowing millions of Americans would take the drug for common infections, even though it knew the drug was going to cause liver failure and consequent deaths. Von Eschenbach lied to Congress to cover up FDA wrongdoing during the approval process, which is a primary reason why Stupak is so upset with him.
In the past few days another FDA scandal has emerged. In December of 2007 numerous reports of severe reactions to a blood thinner, Heparin (made by Baxter International), including 4 deaths began to surface. Outrage hit Congress when it was discovered a key component of the drug was being produced in China and the FDA had violated its own rules by not inspecting the Chinese plant. Even when the reports came in the FDA simply dragged its feet. Heparin is needed in high amounts by those on kidney dialysis.
This news comes at a time of numerous other drug-related scandals like Vytorin (cholesterol) and Avandia (diabetes) have drawn major news headlines. In a breaking news story a prominent researcher has announced that 22,000 lives could have been saved if the FDA had acted in a timely matter on the heart by-pass drug. Trasylol. This is part of a story that will run on 60 Minutes (Feb 17). I have reported on the Trasylol scandal in the past and clearly explained how von Eschenbach covered for Bayer – even when Bayer was caught red-handed hiding death data from the FDA! Von Eschenbach’s support of Bayer, a move designed to reduce lawsuits, cost 22,000 American lives.
It is unlikely von Eschenbach will make it through next week. Then the question becomes – will anyone hold him accountable or will he simply move on to a seven figure salary in Big Pharma?
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