Healthy Skepticism Library item: 17881

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Ferriman A
Novartis breached code after doctors say it 'invented' a disease
BMJ 2002 Dec 14; 325:(7377):1379
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/325/7377/1379

Abstract:

The drug company Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK has been found to be in breach of the industry’s advertising code in promoting its drug nateglinide (Starlix).

A GP complained to the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, a body set up by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in 1993 to police its advertising rules, after he attended a meeting on diabetes and coronary heart disease. The meeting was organised by Lanarkshire health care committee and sponsored by Novartis.

At this meeting, a speaker used a large study—-known as the DECODE study (Diabetes Epidemiology: Collaborative Analysis of Diagnostic Criteria in Europe)—-to suggest that if doctors treating diabetes could reduce the high concentrations of sugar in their patients’ blood after a meal, they could reduce their mortality. He produced literature from Novartis to support his contention. The literature pointed out that the company’s drug nateglinide reduced glucose levels after meals and . . .