Healthy Skepticism Library item: 974

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: news

Risk of death is linked with Natrecor
Newz.in 2005 Apr 20

Full text:

A new research challenges the safety level linked with the drug ‘Natretor.’
Scios Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson is the maker of “Natrecor.”

Researchers say that the use of heart-failure drug Natrecor results in death within a month of treatment.

A report shows that 10% of people who are hospitalized for heart failure, the drug enlarge their blood vessels that reduce stress on the heart and results in shortness of breath.

The study is published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association. The conclusions of researchers are based on an analysis of three major studies of Natrecor that involves 485 patients and 377 controls.

Researcher Keith Aaronson of the University of Michigan says, “The individual studies were not powerful enough to look at mortality. Only by doing this analysis does real risk emerge.”

In the March Circulation, the same researchers reported a 40% to 50% increased risk of kidney problems with Natrecor.

Scios announces that it will arrange an outside board of heart experts for the evaluation of the drug’s safety.

A Food and Drug Administration review of Natrecor in 2001 says the company’s data could not “rule out a 50% increased risk” of death among patients given Natrecor.