SEROXAT (NO. 2)

Early day motion 1320, tabled 8 June 2004 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 45 members.

That this House congratulates New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer on his decision to sue the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline for alleged repeated and persistent fraud by suppressing the results of studies that showed the anti-depressant Seroxat is no more effective, or less effective, than a placebo in treating depression in young people and that the incidence of suicidal tendencies doubled among users in three of the trials; notes in one trial 6.5 per cent. of the sample taking Seroxat developed suicidal tendencies compared to 1.1 per cent. in the placebo group; is shocked to learn that the results were suppressed because GlaxoSmithKline decided that admitting that the drug did not work in children would be commercially unacceptable... as this would undermine the profile of Seroxat; and calls for early action here to conclude the delayed Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency investigation into Seroxat.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 3, Scottish National Party 2, Plaid Cymru 1.