Getting Away With Murder

The FDA has decided to allow a heartworm drug for dogs, which was been linked to over 500 canine deaths before its use was suspended four years ago, back on the market. The drug, Proheart 6, was developed by pharmaceutical giant Wyeth. The company had such cozy relationships with the FDA that in late 2004, when Proheart 6 was pulled, a smear campaign they orchestrated against FDA veterinarian and GAP client Victoria Hampshire, who discovered the link between the drug and the fatalities, forced her out of her job. Hampshire was eventually cleared of all wrongdoing of the bogus charges brought against her.

So what justification had the FDA used in deciding to re-release the drug? Good question…From Reuters:

Tests by Fort Dodge Animal Health, the Wyeth unit that makes Proheart 6, found residue from solvents used to make the drug could cause allergic reactions, the FDA said. A manufacturing change decreased the presence of residues, and allergic reactions dropped after the reformulated product went on sale in other countries, Wyeth said.

So we should just take Wyeth’s word for it, right? If that doesn't convince you, the Director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine gave the drug this vote of confidence:

"While we concur with the limited return of ProHeart 6 to the U.S. market, we strongly encourage veterinarians and pet owners to report any possible adverse reactions".

This quote doesn’t quite instill confidence that they’re sure about the drug, does it? To dog-owners out there – fair warning.

Comments

[Jean B.]

Nothing this manufacturer does and now the FDA does instills confidence in me. This is a disgrace to U.S. citizens and their beloved animal companions.

As a former victim of ProHeart 6 -- two of my dogs died from this drug and my third's immune system was compromised and is on medication six years later -- I feel I can speak for others who have had their dogs harmed and/or killed by this drug by saying that we feel that our rights have been violated and our dogs have been murdered all over again.

Whatever happened to our right to appear at an FDA hearing before the CVM BEFORE the drug was re-released to the market? We were told by the FDA to watch the FDA Register in anticipation of an upcoming hearing. The hearing never happened. This drug has been slipped through the back door with, I feel, the FDA apparently being a willing participant.

It is amazing to me that this manufacturer is allowed to reintroduce a product to market without the Senate investigation being completed. Who is running our country? Apparently not our "government."

I can only hope that in the past four years, Fort Dodge has really worked on making their product problem-free. Unfortunately, I'm guessing that very little, in fact, has been done to improve the product. I really do hope that THIS TIME they have the health and welfare of the dogs first and foremost in mind and that it's not about making this a banner year financially for the company as a whole. I'm not holding my breath because I KNOW BETTER.