Plavix

2021: Plavix developers will pay $834 million to hide the side effects of the drug

In mid-February 2021, a court forced Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi to pay the state of Hawaii more than $834 million for concealing the side effects of the antiplatelet drug Plavix, which is used to prevent repeated myocardial infarction or stroke.

Companies produce this drug as part of a joint venture and carry out marketing together. Honolul Judge Dean Ochiai concluded that manufacturers had not properly warned consumers of the existing health risks. Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors has proven that the Plavix drug is ineffective for nearly 30% of patients using it in a given state, and manufacturers knew about it.

Bristol-Myers and Sanofi to pay $834 million to cover up side effects of blood liquefaction drug Plavix

According to court documents, many of the patients who did not have the proper action were from Asia or the Pacific Islands. Such patients are not able to metabolize the drug properly due to genetic features, so Plavix could not reduce the risk of repeated myocardial infarction or stroke in such people.

Lawyers claim that manufacturers have known about the pharmacodynamic features of this drug since its release, but deliberately turned a blind eye to this problem. Thus, the Bristol-Myers and Sanofi marketing campaign "put patients at risk of serious injury or death in order to increase profits." According to a court order, companies deceived users for 12 years, starting in December 1998.

The court's decision is unreasonable, the companies said in a joint statement. - The overwhelming amount of scientific evidence shows that Plavix is a safe and effective therapy, including for people of Asian descent.

The companies said they would appeal.^[1]

Notes