Johnson & Johnson to Pay $158 Million to Texas

It was just a matter of time before the ugly visage of the corporate vulture became public. At last, the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $158 million to the state of Texas on claims that the company “overcharged” Medicaid and “illegally promoted” the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. Johnson & Johnson “allegedly” over-hyped the benefits of the drug and downplayed its risks. The settlement is said to be the largest Medicaid fraud settlement in state history. David Sell, Boston Herald 01/19/2012 Read Article: Boston Herald

Chrysler Recalls Dodge Ram Trucks and Dodge Journey SUVs

Chrysler has announced a recall of 150,000 vehicles in three separate recalls to fix various problems. The recalls cover Dodge Ram trucks and Dodge Journey SUVs. The issues include steering problems and faulty rear axle components in the Ram trucks and faulty airbags in the SUVs. The company has not received any reports of injuries associated with the recalls. Ken Thomas, Forbes 12/31/2010

Wrongful Death Suit Filed Over Toyota Crash

The family of Trina Renee Harris has filed suit against Toyota Motors Inc. Ms. Harris was killed in an accident when her car sped through a stop sign and smashed into a cement wall. The accident occurred just weeks before the recall that would have included Ms. Harris’ 2009 Toyota Corolla.

The Houston Chronicle says Ms. Harris told her husband that she felt the accelerator moved on its own at times, but did not think anything of it.

This is yet another example of corporate indifference. It also highlights the failure of NHTSA to police corporate neglect. For years, the auto industry has virtually controlled NHTSA. And, our families have been the victims of corporate and government indifference.

The Harris suit is the third wrongful death lawsuit filed against Toyota in relation to the recalled vehicles.

For more, see Mary Flood, Houston Chronicle 02/01/2010 Houston Chronicle

Effectiveness, Safety of Zetia and Vytorin, Cholesterol Drugs, in Doubt

Zetia and Vytorin are two widely prescribed cholesterol drugs. Both drug are marketed and sold by Schering-Plough and Merck.

Cardiologists have been demanding Schering-Plough and Merck come forward with clinical trials to prove the drugs’ effectiveness and safety. Cardiologists fear that if the drugs prove to be less effective than advertised, patients may be putting themselves at unnecessary risk of heart attacks. Approximately 800,000 Americans are prescribed Zetia and Vytorin each year.

So far neither Schering-Plough nor Merck have published the results of Zetia and Vytorin trials. This ain’t Denmark, but something’s rotten here.

And this also ain’t Kansas, so the wizards at Schering-Plough and Merck better publish the data, if it’s true. 800,000 live depend on it!

Alex Berenson, The New York Times 11/21/2007 Read Article: The New York Times

We knew it all the time, didn’t we? Whistle-blower says defects hidden at Toyota-GM plant.

Katy Cameron, a veteran auditor at a General Motors / Toyota plant in California, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the automakers claiming the managers intentionally overlooked serious safety flaws. Ms. Cameron says plant management routinely deleted defects that included brake and seatbelt problems. See, my Blog -- Good guys win: Hawaii Judge Finds for Plaintiff in Seatbelt Defect Case More about "whistleblower lawsuits."

As soon as she voiced concerns about the safety problems, Ms. Cameron was demoted and accused of suffering from mental instability. Yuri Kageyama, USA Today 11/20/2007 Read Article: USA Today

FDA Convenes on Cold Drugs for Youngsters

A group of pediatricians told FDA advisers that cold and cough medicines should not be given to children under six years old.

An FDA panel is currently considering a petition that seeks government recognition that the medicines are ineffective and unsafe for children under six years of age.

Meanwhile, drug makers stopped the sale of over-the-counter medicines for toddlers citing potential for overdoses.

See, Andrew Bridges, LA Times 10/18/2007 Read Article: LA Times

SUVs Receive Marginal Ratings for Side Impacts

Tests by the insurance industry revealed that some sport utility vehicles don't provide the side-impact protection that many consumers expect.

According to reports released Thursday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2008 --

Chevrolet TrailBlazer,

Jeep Grand Cherokee,

Nissan Pathfinder, and

Nissan Xterra.

All of these vehicles received marginal ratings in the institute’s 31 mph side-impact testing. Vehicles evaluated by the institute are rated good, acceptable, marginal or poor based on the results of testing.

Ken Thomas, The Washington Post 10/11/2007 Read Article: The Washington Post

Child Cough Medicines Recalled

Johnson & Johnson has ordered a voluntary recall of certain cough and cold products for infants amid reports that misuse could lead to overdoses.

A Johnson & Johnson spokesman says the recall affects infants under two years of age who are particularly at risk for overdose if the products were not administered properly.

The products being recalled include: infants' Tylenol Drops Plus Cold; Concentrated Infants' Tylenol Drops Plus Cold & Cough; Pediacare Infant Drops Decongestant; Pediacare Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough; Pediacare Infant Dropper Decongestant; Pediacare Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough; and Pediacare Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough (PE) products.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory earlier this year warning parents not give cough and cold medicines to infants and toddlers without a doctor’s direction.

AP, The Washington Post 10/11/2007 Read Article: The Washington Post

Jury Awards Punitive Damages Against Pharmaceutical Mfg. Wyeth

Have you used Prempro or Premarin?

A Nevada jury ordered Wyeth, formally known as American Home Products, a prescription drug maker, to pay $99 million in punitive damages to three women, because the company’s menopause drugs caused cancer. Jurors had originally awarded the women $135 million in compensatory damages but the amount was later reduced to $35 million. Three other juries have found that the hormone replacement therapies, Prempro and Premarin, contributed to breast cancer.

Wyeth also manufactures over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like Robitussin and the analgesic Advil (ibuprofen).

Jef Feeley, Bloomberg 10/16/2007 Read Article: Bloomberg