The "Clinically Tested" Delusion

If you are finding scientific medical studies confusing,study proving Vitamin E ineffective and other citing
you are not alone. The main stream media dailyAntioxidants (Vitamin C, E and Selenium) having no
menus tout breakthrough health events andeffect, used forms of vitamins that are not being
miraculous cures and discoveries - citing scientificused in humans in one case, and no vitamins were
studies. Some claims are outlandish and results'used at all in the other study. But of course these
surprising. That's why the media is commonlyfacts are never reported in the media and you have
dropping names of celebrities and high rankingto do the sleuthing yourself.
university doctors to numb those who weigh suchUS Elite University studies, such as Harvard or Emory
information critically - but also as a disclaimer toare credible, right? Well, the Harvard Medical students
protect their networks.publicly complained about the faculties ties to drug
If the products or methods alluded to are of any realcompanies: "Harvard should be embarrassed by the F
or potential interest, you may want to check on thegrade it recently received from the American Medical
credibility of the information rendered and theStudent Association, a national group that rates how
underlying study cited.well medical schools monitor and control drug industry
The very first and most important piece ofmoney." On April 9, 2009, The Boston Globe
information is rarely ever mentioned by the media:reported: "Dr. Robert B. Fogel, who taught at Harvard
who sponsored and financed the study? StudiesMedical School and practiced at Brigham and Women's
usually deliver the results the sponsor wants, if theHospital until 2004, said he altered numbers and
results are not what the sponsor expects, you'll mostinvented anatomic details reported in an article about
likely never see the result, these will be trashed orobesity and sleep apnea. The journal Sleep retracted
hidden from public view. So called "randomized,the article in February and the federal Office of
double-blind, placebo-controlled" studies soundResearch Integrity concluded its investigation last
impressive to most people, but it still matters whatmonth."
financial interest spawned the study. For example, aThe FDA warrants the authenticity of studies and is
multi-center Canadian Universities research study,protecting you, right? Not at all, the FDA has a long
published March 19, 2009 in "Gut Pathogens"record of corruption and industry ties; it protects big
concludes, that Probiotics may be effective in easingindustry not the consumer. You can read more on
anxiety. In this case, it was properly disclosed thatthis topic on line at StopFDACensorship.org, but here
Yakult, a Japanese producer of probiotic consumeris just one recent example: The US Government
products was behind the study. However, oftentimesAccountability Office, GAO, in a recent sting
such references are absent or hidden in footnotes ofoperation, was able to set up a completely fictitious
participating researchers biography - hoping that youmedical product approval review board, using names
will not take the time to research every participantsthat were obviously false, like "Truper Dawg" and
industry affiliations. The National Institute of Health,"April Phuls", which happened to be diseased pet dog
NIH froze payments on a research grant to Emorynames. In addition, the GAO invented a non existing
University after it learned that the scientist in chargemedical product name to be investigated, which as
of the studies had concealed $ 2.8 million he receivedapproved by the Independent Review Board. In the
from GlaxoSmithKline. A recent study carried by thecase of drugs, the FDA is almost always ruling in
mainstream media touted that sugary soft drinks arefavor of the drug companies. The Vytorin study
not the reason for Childhood Obesity, but thewhich began in 2002 found that Vytorin worked no
consumer had to do some research to find that thebetter to reduce clogged arteries than a high dose of
"study" was sponsored by the American Beveragea less-expensive, generically available statin alone. In
Association.fact, some of the Vytorin patients in that study
The next question is: what was the goal of theactually developed more arterial plaque than those
study before it began and is the outcome in line withtaking Zocor alone, putting them at an even greater
the stated goal? It is generally accepted that for arisk of heart attacks and strokes. In spite of the fact
clinical trial to be effective, a study's endpoint mustthat the Vytorin study found that Vytorin was no
be set at its beginning and remain unchanged.more effective than a high dose of
However, some drug companies are on record togenerically-available Zocor, the FDA said it was not
have retroactively changed the intended outcome ofadvising healthcare professionals to stop prescribing
studies in order to conceal safety issues. Merck, in athe drug.
joint venture with Schering-Plough completed a studyNow, are the above examples just isolated cases and
on its Vytorin drug in April 2006, but it didn't like thethe majority of clinical studies are credible? Is there
results, so it tried for 20 months to retro-activelyany 100 percent objective studies conducted? Highly
alter the design of the study after the fact. But thatunlikely! The fact is that practically all studies are
"cherry-picking" attempt outraged the medicalfinanced directly or indirectly either by Wall Street or
community, so Merck just delayed the release of thea government institution. In all cases the scientists
study until the pressure to release it could no longerfind themselves in an ethical quandary, serving their
be resisted. Finally, on January 14, 2008, thecareer goals and swing the data in favor of the
companies admitted that the drug doesn't work toexpected outcome, or follow their inner voice and
their expectation. But the drug was approved by theignore the pressure that's upon them. This pressure is
FDA in 2004, so the revenue was streaming during allsevere when pharmaceutical studies are designed by
the time of procrastination.the drug companies marketing departments.
Next: who were the scientists named in the study;Moreover the pressure extends to the regulatory
did they follow through from beginning to theagency that should identify inconsistencies and flaws
conclusion? Particularly pharmaceutical companies havein studies: In November 2008, a group of FDA
a dismal record in this category, they tend to replacescientists wrote a letter to the House of
scientists that don't "perform" according to theirRepresentatives "The purpose of this letter is to
expected outcome. The New England Journal ofinform you that the scientific review process for
Medicine found that more than 30% of studiesmedical devices at the FDA has been corrupted and
conducted on antidepressant drugs go unpublisheddistorted by current FDA managers, thereby placing
because the outcome is not favorable for the drugthe American people at risk,"..."Managers have
company. The Journal examined 74 studies over 23ordered, intimidated and coerced FDA experts to
years and only 38 of these studies produced positivemodify scientific evaluations, conclusions and
results for the drugs being tested. Of the 14 studiesrecommendations in violation of the laws, rules and
with unfavorable results that were published, 11regulations, and to accept clinical and technical data
appeared to portray the drugs more effective thanthat is not scientifically valid."
they actually were. AstraZeneca "buried" unfavorableIn conclusion, we can safely assume that media and
studies on its anti-psychotic drug Seroquel, because itproduct claims like "clinically tested", or "proven in
showed that it can cause diabetes. Seroquelclinical studies" are nothing more than marketing hype,
generated $ 4.45 billion in revenue for AstraZeneca inunless you can drill down deep enough into the study
2008.to satisfy your own need and expectation of the
When a celebrity medical doctor puts his name on aclinical results. But in no way should you take guidance
study it is credible, right? At least that is what thein health related decisions based on unverified
media wants you to believe. But the pharmaceutical"clinically tested" claims.
industry is pursuing these doctors fervently - andReferences:
with lots of money and other favors. One well"NIH Freezes Grants to Emory in Secret Drug Money
respected individual, Dr. Scott S. Reuben turned outScandal"; David Gutierrez; April 16, 2009; IN
to be a fraudster for at least 13 years during whichFOODTURE WE TRUST"; Heinz Gisel; Xulon Press,
he fabricated data published in 21 medical journalMarch 2009. ISBN 978-1607912651
articles. The beneficiary companies of his fabricatedDrug Companies Routinely Bury Studies Showing
findings included Pfizer and products mentioned in hisTheir Drugs Don't Work"; Mike Adams; August 20,
articles included Celebrex, Lyrica and others. Harvard2008. AstraZeneca Seroquel Studies 'Buried', Papers
University's Psychiatric Researcher Dr. JosephShow"; Jef Feeley, Margaret Cronin Fisk; February 27,
Biederman received some $ 1.6 million from drugBloomberg
companies, but lied about it, while he spearheaded aKey dates in Vytorin controversy"; Edward Tobin,
4000% increase in pediatric bipolar disorder and put aRansdell Pierson; March 30, 2008; Reuters
countless number of children on anti-psychotic drugs.FDA issues Vytorin Early Communication";Jan. 25,
So what are his studies for Johnson & Johnson2008; Parker Waichman Alonso, LLP.
on medicines in children worth? Well, he obviouslyDrug Maker Told Studies Would Aid It, Papers Say";
thought he owes J & J a favor, so he publishedGardiner Harris, New York Times; March 19, 2009.
a study in the Journal of the American MedicalHarvard Medical School in Ethics Quandary"; Duff
Association, discrediting the natural herb St. John'sWilson; New York Times, March 2, 2009.
Wort, stating that the herb is useless in treatingDoctor's Pain Studies Were Fabricated, Hospital Says";
ADHD in children. However, he used an inactive,Gardiner Harris; New York Times, March 10, 2009.
oxidized form of the herb in the study. Nevertheless,"Department of health and Human Services Approves
the mainstream media reported the doctored "study"Fictitious Medical Device Review Board Led by a
with headlines like: "St. John's Wort No Help in ADHD"Dead Dog"; Mike Adams; March 30, 2009. Dingell,
(Time, ABC News, Reuters). Since drug companiesStupak to Investigate FDA's Medical Device Approval
don't want you to take any natural dietary or herbalProcess; Lawmakers Question Whether FDA
supplements, they have a vested interest inKnowingly Allowed Unsafe & Ineffective Medical
sponsoring such studies and every time we readDevices into U.S. Market. Committee on Energy and
about vitamins or minerals not being effective, weCommerce; Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman. November
have to search for clues how the study was17, 2008.
sponsored and conducted. For instance, a recent