Side Effect Death by John Virapen

This book by the Ex Eli Lilly manger John Virapen is the first time that someone who has worked for the pharmaceutical industry tells the story about Prozac and the other SSRI antidepressants.

It has been published in Germany some weeks ago and will soon be realeased in Sweden.

John Mack (see : http://www.talk.pharma-mkting.com/show038.htm ) writes about this book:

John Virapen is now retired, after working more than 30 years in the pharma industry internationally. He haas worked at the executive level for some major companies such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. His career started in Sweden where he was Managing Director for Eli Lilly Sweden AB. Virapen now lives in Germany.
Last year Virapen published a fictional novel (written in German) about corruption in the pharma industry, which created some debate. He was urged by the public to tell the true story and has now written a book of memoirs primarily outlining the criminal activities he was involved in during his active years.
The Big Fish here is Eli Lilly. A few months ago Virapen was invited by Andy Vickery, a prominent US attorney, as a fact witness in an ongoing case regarding Prozac. Virapen claims to have "damning evidence" exposing Eli Lilly bribing the regulatory board in Sweden to attain marketing approval for Prozac.

I have read this book already and it is really worth reading. John told me today that he is also going to publish the book in English.

In his book he tells that the same must have happend with Prozac in Germany like in Sweden. Because the Bundesgesundheitsamt (BGA) had great doubts in the late 80ies about the efficiacy of Prozac and was concerned about the suicide risk of Prozac. But then one year later Prozac was suddenly admitted. "Who has dined with the BGA and what did they have for dessert?" ask John Virapen. This I also want to know but not only about Prozac. I asked to the German authorities, why was ZOLOFT admitted, the drug that my wife took and I have asked for access to the files according to the Freedom of Information Act two years ago. I am still wating for the final answer.

My Story in the German News-Magazine Focus 28.02.2008

At the beginning of this year, secret documents are found, that GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of the SSRI PAXIL, have known about the risk of suicide since the late 80ies but have concealed it from the public. Dr. Glenmullen writes: "...GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil data in its earliest reports to the FDA in 1989 show a statistically significant, greater than eight-fold increased risk of suicidal behaviour - suicide and suicide attempts - for patients put on Paxil when compared to patients put on placebo (dummy) pills ...".

I told this and my story to the German news-magazine Focus and they published it on 28th Febuary 2008. I also told them about Mr. John Virapen, an Ex Eli Lilly manager in Sweden. He bribed the swedish expert to write a positive report for the approval of PROZAC, the first SSRI.

But the same must have happend in Germany also.

But what about ZOLOFT and Pfizer? How long did Pfizer know about the risk of suicide of ZOLOFT?

(Reference: http://www.focus.de/gesundheit/news/psycho-medikamente_aid_261754.html )

To be continued ...

Kirsch Study on the Lack of Efficacy of SSRI Antidepressants

A recent study by Kirsch based on the studies submitted to the FDA could not prove that SSRI-antidepressants are effective in treating mild to moderate depression. What the pharma-companies have long claimed has now been proved to be a damn lie! Why are these drugs be given to the patients, if they have severe side effects but almost no positive effects? Why were these SSRI-drugs approved by the FDA in the US, by the BfArM in Germany and in the other countries?

The regulators have to explain that to the public!

(Reference: http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0050045)