Pfizer Sued For False Lipitor Claims

The pharmaceutical company Pfizer is being sued. Health-care advocates Community Catalyst say that Pfizer lied to women and seniors when they claimed that Lipitor would reduce their risk of having a heart attack. Community Catalyst argued that the drug not only didn't work, but that it might even be putting those who used it in danger. The case used a recent study of 2,000 women as evidence. The study found that women who took Lipitor ran a 10 percent higher risk of heart attacks than those who took a placebo. Pfizer sold almost $11 billion worth of Lipitor last year. The company's stock value has recently gone up following the announcement that Lipitor had been approved for reducing stroke and heart attack risks among diabetics. Community Catalyst.org Boston Herald September 29, 2005USA Today September 28, 2005 Dr. Mercola's Comment:Last month, Lipitor was found to be no better than other cholesterol drug on the market, and it may have actually worse side effects to boot. Lipitor is one of the best drugs on the market -- from Pfizer's perspective, not yours. Marketed brilliantly by Pfizer, you'll pay thousands of dollars a year for the rest of your life for useless drugs like Lipitor until you die prematurely from their side effects.But not quickly enough to ruin their annuity on collecting monthly refill bills from you and/or your insurance company. All the while,Pfizer is earning $11 billion a year from the drug, despite a lack of proof it actually helps patients. So you can understand why Pfizer will fight tooth-and-nail to protect its major cash cow. And meanwhile, what's the FDA's reaction to the growing evidence that Lipitor is useless and dangerous? They approved Lipitor for wider use to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack for diabetics. This is unbelievable in light of the fact that Lipitor could double the risk of a deadly stroke for diabetics! If you're taking astatin drug and want to learn more about safer alternatives, I urge you to review the articles I've collected on my statins resource page.