Xarelto Still Without an Antidote
FDA announced that Bayer’s popular blood thinner, Xarelto, will still not have an approved antidote. The government agency will not approve the antidote, AndexXa, without additional information from the manufacturer, Portola. This pushes back the possible approval date to May 2018. About Xarelto Approved by the FDA in 2011, Xarelto is used to reduce
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Synvisc-One Injections Contaminated with Microbes
In December 2017, Sanofi Genzyme voluntarily recalled Synvisc-One, as a result of an airborne microbial contamination of lot number 7RSL021 sold in the United States from October 25, 2017, through November 7, 2017. This recalled lot equates to over 12,000 syringes. About Synvisc-One Synvisc-One injections use hylan A fluid and hylan B gel, made from a substance called
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Nationwide Pharmacy to Pay $63.7M for Medical Billing Fraud
DaVita Rx is a nationwide pharmacy that specializes in serving patients with severe kidney disease. The company agreed to pay a total of $63.7 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations. A whistleblower came forward to report that the company used improper billing practices to gain financial benefits from defrauding federal healthcare programs. About the
Read MoreEPA Spends Close to $2M on Failed Asbestos Cleanup
After spending almost 9 months and close to $2 million, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said their asbestos cleanup project failed. For 16 years, the site in question has been seeping dangerous asbestos into the town of Springfield, Illinois. About Asbestos The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies six types of asbestos minerals: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite,
Read MoreNew Nurse Training Could Force Patients on Certain Blood Thinners
More people are refusing to take the dangerous blood thinners Xarelto and Pradaxa. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies are finding creative workarounds. They are funding studies and online training programs centered on teaching nurses to convince patients to use these dangerous medications. Plus, informing nurses on what to say when a patient refuses to take these blood thinners.
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Name Brand Companies Now Responsible for Generic Side Effects
In a monumental win for consumers injured by defective medications, the California Supreme Court will now allow generic medication victims the right to hold the name-brand companies liable for their injuries. In a 73-page ruling, the court ruled that the name brand drug maker Novartis is accountable for negligent misrepresentation and failure to warn of the
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New Generic Viagra Could Expose More Men to Melanoma
After almost 20 years on the market, Viagra’s patent will end. This will open the door to many competitors making their own version of the legendary blue pill. To get ahead of competitors, Pfizer will launch a generic Viagra. This version of the pill will be half the price of its predecessor. With this new
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Officials Knowingly Exposed Firemen to Asbestos
The city administrator and fire chief in Marion, South Carolina face criminal charges for knowingly exposing staff, volunteer workers and community members to cancer-causing asbestos. Both knew that the fire department contained asbestos, but they allowed firefighters and members of the community to use the facility anyway. About Asbestos Asbestos is safe when it is
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Silicon Valley the Next Whistleblower Hot Spot
Most of the time, people assume that whistleblowers come from the medical field or Wall Street. But, there is a huge number of new whistleblowers coming forward in a new area of the business world. A section already riddled with a problematic reputation, Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley isn’t just comprised of large public tech companies
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FDA Approves Abilify as First Digital Pill
There is now a way for doctors to instantly know if you are taking your medication. Abilify MyCite is the first digital medicine to win U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. However, researchers fear digital ingestion could expose more to compulsive behaviors associated with the medication. About Abilify Abilify (Aripiprazole) is a commonly
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