Why Do People Hide From Bad News?
Nesiritide is a medicine for people who are hospitalized with very serious heart failure. It is FDA approved because it makes the symptom of shortness of breath a little better faster than doing nothing.
Many, many physicians use this medicine routinely in intensive care units, and lots more give it to patients in their offices who are not critically ill.
We have presented data at scientific meetings that suggests that this medicine may be risky. Specifically, it looks like this medicine may increase the risk of death within a month after it is used. Our analysis does not prove this, but is strong enough that most objective observers would likely think twice before using it.
The company that makes this medicine (Scios/J&J) and all the investigators know about our analysis. If we were wrong, all the company would need to do is release an analysis of their studies showing we made a mistake and thereby demonstrate that the medicine really is safe. Alternatively, they could perform a study that proves whether or not it is safe. They are making a couple hundred million dollars a year on this drug, but such a study would be unlikely to cost more than 30 or 40 million. (If I could get 5 million I think I could get an answer.)
The company has refused to do either of these things, and quite frankly, I don't blame them. Just as I have become more concerned as we have performed more analyses and believe it is important to make sure we know with certainty whether this commonly used medicine is safe or dangerous, they too have become very focused. They are focused on sales.
Before I can use nesiritide with confidence, I just want to be reassured it is safe. It seems pretty simple!
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