Natrecor, manufactured by the Scios division of the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, is approved by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) for in-hospital use only, for the intravenous treatment of decompensated congestive heart failure. It’s frequently used in out-patient clinics, an unapproved or off-label use.
The use of Natrecor has been highly controversial. In the July 14, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine Dr. Eric Topal criticized the marketing strategy of Scios, claiming that it promoted off-label uses of the drug. He concluded that Natrecor should be removed from the market because the FDA was given insufficient evidence about the drug at the time of approval.
When the FDA asked Scios for more warnings on the drug packaging, Scios set up a committee headed by Harvard’s Dr. Eugene Braunwald. The panel recommended a much stricter control of Natrecor use and advised that it should only be used inside hospitals.
Cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein of New York’s North Shore University Hospital published the results of a study in the April 20, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluding that his patients had a 80% greater risk of death or kidney problems with the use of Natrecor than with other treatments like diuretics or vasodilators.
If you or a loved one has been injured by the administration of Natrecor, you may be able to recover damages to compensate you. Your first step will be to find an experienced Netecor attorney to review your case, to help you understand your rights as well as the options available to you. See Natrecor Attorneys and Lawyers – How to Hire to find an attorney knowledgeable about Natrecor to review your claim.
Check out the following articles for more information about Natrecor, filing a Natrecor lawsuit and finding a Natrecor attorney: