Cardiologist urges removal of Natrecor heart drug

Top research cardiologist Doctor Eric J. Topol recently suggested in a New England Journal of Medicine article that Natrecor be with drawn from use until its efficacy is proven for fragile heart patients.

This is the same Doctor Topol who was an early warning voice on Vioxx and he has some similar concerns on Natrecor, particularly the aggressive marketing, it's high cost, and the absence of a large scale trial to prove it's effectiveness. Interesting reading and another red flag about big pharmacy companies rolling out drugs to boost profits and sales with out adequate long term research.

I'll be the first to admit there is some real tension between the necessity to get effective, ground breaking drugs in the hands of sick, dying or hurting people, and the real role of government and health care providers to make sure those drugs are safe. I don't reflexively think everything drug companies do is bad. Still, how many times do we have to see this scenario replayed of a drug rushed to market, or it's use expanded beyond it's initial approved purpose, with not enough time spent studying the long term effects relative to the costs or side affects. Or when a simpler, cheaper, proven drug is just as good.

Interesting reading and not the last you will hear on this topic.