Lipitor, the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering statin drug produced by Pfizer, was the world's most successful drug during the time its patent was active. It's total sales exceeded $140 billion, more than twice its nearest competitor. When its patent expired at the end of 2011, the FDA issued its first warning statements on cholesterol-lowering drugs at the beginning of 2012, which included memory loss, diabetes, and liver damage. But how many people had already suffered these effects, and many others, before the FDA issued any warnings?
Still, the class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins continues to earn major revenues for drug companies today, especially among generic brands now. With almost 1 out of every 4 Americans over the age of 55 currently taking a statin drug, we may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg on how damaging these drugs have been, as they are now being linked to Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases as well.
Statin drugs may very well become the largest criminal act ever committed upon the American public, eclipsing the Vioxx scandal that is responsible for more than 60,000 deaths. Almost all of the major drug companies today are convicted criminals, with settlements in legal cases well into the billions of dollars. But no one goes to prison, and the drug sales continue.
This just published study reviewing the so-called scientific studies backing the rationale for cholesterol-lowering statin drugs is probably the most comprehensive one to date. It is: "a comprehensive review of Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane review databases undertaken for articles relating to cardiovascular primary prevention and statin side effects with the aim of harmonising their roles within contemporary clinic practice."
And the conclusion of this review of the scientific studies? "These finding on statin major adverse effects had been under-reported and the way in which they withheld from the public, and even concealed, is a scientific farce." Read the complete study and spread the word.