The Japanese scandal over research using the Novartis blockbuster hypertension drug Diovan (valsartan) continues to widen. The first major figure brought down in the scandal was Hiroaki Matsubara, a prominent cardiologist and researcher at Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan, who resigned from his position after numerous retractions and investigations. Then last year accusations surfaced about another prominent researcher, Issei Komuro, a professor…
More Bad News For Novartis Blood Pressure Drug
July 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In the last few days more bad news about valsartan (Diovan, Novartis) has emerged in Japan. Another major study conducted in Japan– the Jikei Heart Study– will be retracted and Japanese health authorities said they were investigating severe skin reactions associated with use of the drug. The new events are only the latest problems for the…
Another One Bites the Dust: Diovan Patent Expires But Generic Valsartan Is MIA
September 25, 2012 by 1 Comment
Although the patent on valsartan (Diovan, Novartis) expired last Friday, a generic version of the popular antihypertensive drug has yet to make it to market. By contrast, a generic version of Diovan HCT, the combination of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, was recently launched by generic drugmaker Mylan. As reported on Pharmalot, Ranbaxy, the embattled generic drugmaker, holds…
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