New York Times article today
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/health/3...html?ref=health
"In 29 studies, 13 of 11,614 patients given Zelnorm had heart problems, including one who died. Just one of 7,031 patients given placebos had similar problem"
"Thirteen cases of heart problems in more than 11,000 patients is about what one might find in a normal population, said Dr. Stephen Cunningham, head of clinical development and medical affairs in the United States at Novartis"
"Novartis’s own studies show that it is only 5 percent to 10 percent more effective than placebos at resolving the symptoms of constipation-related irritable bowel syndrome in women. Men were dropped from the initial studies because the drug did not appear to work in them at all"
" In a 2003 presentation, Thomas Ebeling, chief executive of Novartis’s drug division, said Zelnorm’s sales in the United States were closely tied to those commercials.
“The weeks we go off the air, the growth flattens,” Mr. Ebeling said. “When we restart, you see the growth accelerate again.”
"Zelnorm’s withdrawal is likely to intensify a debate about whether widespread drug advertising is appropriate. Some on Capitol Hill have called for curbs on drug commercials, particularly in the year after a drug’s introduction"