'New' news is old news
'New' news is old news
Pargluva is a new diabetes drug that was endorsed for approval by a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) panel less than two months ago.
Then two weeks ago the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study that noted at least twice as many deaths and cardiovascular problems in diabetics that used Pargluva as opposed to other established diabetic drugs.
JAMA indicated that the study had been rushed to publication to avoid another Vioxx-like scandal.
Regular readers of this column already knew this information almost five months ago ('A Kahnflict of interest' 6/15/05). That column noted at least twice the heart failure rate among diabetics that used Pargluva as opposed to other diabetic drugs, and took to task Dr. Richard Kahn for his excited promotion of Pargluva. Dr. Kahn has been chief medical and science officer of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for almost 20 years.
The experimental Pargluva for which Kahn expressed such great hype and hope was reported as "the first insulin sensitizer to also target lipids". Au contraire.
The proper form of the mineral chromium (a whole food form that is grown rather than one that is chemically synthesized) in the proper amount (200 to 300 micrograms daily) has been shown repeatedly and consistently to normalize blood sugar and A1C scores as well as reduce total cholesterol while increasing HDL. 200 micrograms of whole food chromium daily has been demonstrated to accomplish this in 6 months. That is the same period of time for which Pargluva was tested though the drug demonstrated much less results. 300 micrograms of chromium daily has been noted to accomplish this in a matter of weeks -- but only in the proper (whole food) form. The chromium results have been accomplished without any side effects at all.
A statement by Kahn that, "Most people with diabetes have hypertension and a variety of lipid disorders … that's why they develop complications, particularly cardiovascular disease" falls considerably short of completely accurate.
The reason that "people with diabetes" have "a variety of lipid disorders" and "develop complications, particularly cardiovascular disease" is due to a gross deficiency of the mineral chromium. Chromium deficiency is THE primary cause of diabetes mellitus and A primary cause of cardiovascular disease. That is why people with diabetes are more than twice as prone to cardiovascular disease. They are already grossly deficient in chromium and that puts them well on their way down the path to cardiovascular disease.
The proper form of chromium in the proper amount has consistently demonstrated superior results to those achieved with muraglitazar/Pargluva or Actos, and has done so without side effects.
The gargantuan pharmaceutical Bristol-Myers Squibb (in a partnership with Merck) made the drug Pargluva that Kahn was pushing. Bristol-Myers Squibb also just happened to be a major sponsor of the main ADA fundraising event called 'Tour De Cure'. Is that a Kahnflict of interest?
Merck was also the maker of Vioxx which has been pulled from the market for very similar side effects as found in Pargluva.
A UPI report this week noted that Bristol-Myers Squibb may end its deal with Merck to develop Pargluva.
Urgent ACTION ALERT
Senate Bill 1873 (SB1873) is new legislation that was whisked in and out of committee in a single day, and then rushed to the Senate Legislative Calendar in only one week. It may even have gone on to a whirlwind vote before you read this.
SB1873 eliminates liability of pharmaceutical companies for damages by their vaccines and drugs.
SB1873 also establishes a new federal agency that would operate in secret to keep information about vaccine damage and reactions from the public. This new agency would be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.
You may want to contact your senators and house representative to let them know what you think about this draconian measure.
Christopher C. Barr writes Naturally Speaking from Arkansas: The Natural State … naturally! You may write him at P. O. Box 1147, Pocahontas, Arkansas 72455 or by e-mail at servantofYHVH@hotmail.com.
