How Big Pharma deceives you about drug safety
April 13, 2018
by Joel Lexchin, The Conversation
The recent decision of a Saskatchewan judge to reject the proposed settlement between the provinces and Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, should raise serious questions.
Purdue introduced the prescription drug OxyContin in 1996 and marketed it as safer and less addictive than other opioids. This is now seen by many as the beginning of the opioid crisis in Canada. The settlement in question was meant to compensate patients who were victims of the opioid epidemic and the provinces for some of their additional health-care costs in dealing with the epidemic.
The decision should raise questions not just about how Purdue marketed OxyContin, but also about how Health Canada regulates —or more accurately does not regulate —the promotion of prescription drugs in Canada.
https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2018-04-big-pharma-drug-safety.html
