After Vioxx what next?

Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx, drugs which caused problems to users has been ordered to pay $253 million to the one of the many people who in a one way or another affected with its use (the husband died). The drug cartels usually put profits ahead of human life. Thousands more people will come foward to sue the company. What next after Vioxx? Is it going to be Nevirapine and other ARV’s? Who knows? The only problems with ARVs is that many clients are in Africa. And who cares in Africa? If you read publications on the side effects of these drugs you may be forced to suspect that what happen with Vioxx cannot be avoided. Its a matter of time, but who will help the users in Africa anyway? You may wish to read a book by Anthon Brink tittled: Trouble with Nevirapine.

POSTED BY positiveafrica ON 08.20.05 @ 7:17 pm |

10 Comments »

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  1. Hi Positive Africa, I’d agree that the global pharmaceuticals industry is primarily driven by profit and that we need to be critical of their operations. That said I don’t think that you make a strong link from Vioxx to Nevirapine. It also worries me that we are stepping into the territory of the HIV sceptics whose arguments are used to justify witholding ARVs from millions of people who badly need them.

    Comment by Tony Carr — September 13, 2005 @ 7:44 am

  2. Tonny, the profit motive is still there with the ARVs and severe side effects are well known and already reported. The issue is how can the side effects be minimised? If the said side effects are there what makes you think what happened with vioxx wont happen?

    Comment by positiveafrica — September 21, 2005 @ 6:19 pm

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