Just one more time and I promise it will be the last one – but swine flu offers a lesson to be learned from.
Firstly, we have a WHO that seems to have acted mainly to promote pharmaceutical products, the first of which, the vaccine, has been discredited to a degree that most governments – advised to order huge amounts – desperately try to wriggle our of their contracts with the pharmaceutical industry.
Should it not be of utmost public interest to trace back who advised the governments? Their decision has cost European taxpayers a fortune and I am wondering why there is no public nor media interest in clarifying decision pathways to date?
The second act of this drama unrolls, presenting the by-now-world-famous Tamiflu, live on stage – and, surprise, surprise, in a rather dim light. Millions of doses have been stockpiled by several governments to combat future pandemic influenza outbreaks. One can only assume the drug works. Or is it that it may not?
A team of Cochrane reviewers surveyed the literature on safety and efficacy of Oseltamvir (the generic name of Tamiflu) and its cousin, Zanamivir (Relenza). For pre and post-exposure prophylaxis against influenza both drugs were mildly effective. Treatment trials found that both drugs shortened duration of flu-symptoms by 12 to 24 hours – if taken early in the course of the infection.
The reviewers report that there are problems in evaluating Oseltamvir’s claimed ability to prevent complications of influenza – such as pneumonia or death. They found that the major study supporting such benefit is based on unpublished data belonging to the manufacturer Roche!This data were not made accessible for scientific scrutiny.
Other published studies had found no benefit. The reviewers found little evidence of harm from the drug (that’s something at least).
In conclusion: in healthy adults Tamiflu is tolerated well, has some
preventive efficacy and can shorten the course of a symptomatic flu, but only by one day. The preventative effect of flu complication remains hypothetical and in question (BMJ 2009 Dec 8).
These results do not really come as a surprise to those of us (doctors) who have long questioned the ongoing tamiflu-mania.
The manufacturer Roche is not happy though and has published two lengthy rebuttals to this analysis, stating that only ‘qualified’ researchers can access the data…? The highly reputable Cochrane Institute does not seem good enough for them As a consequence, independent researchers and editorialists have called for new global standards on transparency when it comes to drug testing.
What a laugh: if you look after your mother who has come down with the flu and you are smart enough to take a course of Tamiflu immediately, you will still get the flu, but instead of 7 days it will only last 6 and a half!
Should I as a Doctor recommend you take Tamiflu? And if so, why? Zillions of taxpayer’s bucks wasted!