Drug Makers Reprimanded

The FDA has called four drug companies on the carpet for misleading marketing practices. Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Cephalon and Eli Lilly have been told to stop exaggerating the benefits of their medications. Some of these companies have also minimized or even left out important information about dangers in their direct-to-consumer advertising as well as promotions to doctors. Some of the medicines in question include the diabetes drug Byetta, the depression drug Cymbalta and the cancer treatment called Treanda. This isn’t the first time the pharmaceutical industry has been criticized for emphasizing the benefits and downplaying the risks of its products. Even after billions of dollars in fines, however, some companies appear willing to push the envelope.
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/NewsEvents/ucm130958.htm