Lawsuits Allege Conspiracy in Ritalin Use; Congressman Urges Probe of Abuses

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If it can happen with Ritalin--why not vaccinations,too?

Lawsuits Allege Conspiracy in Ritalin Use; Congressman Urges Probe of Abuses

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By Pallarito

WESTPORT, Sep 15 (Reuters Health) - Novartis AG is denying allegations that

the company conspired with the American Psychiatric Association to create the

disease known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in order to

fuel the market for its product Ritalin.

The charges against the Swiss drugmaker were leveled in class action lawsuits

filed in California and New Jersey on Wednesday.

Novartis said in a statement on Thursday that it had not seen the lawsuits

and could not respond directly. But the company dismissed an allegation that

Novartis conspired to invent the disorder as " unfounded and preposterous. "

The complaint alleges that Ciba-Geigy Corp., now part of Novartis, colluded

with the American Psychiatric Association to create and promote the diagnoses

of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and ADHD in an effort to boost Ritalin

sales. As a result, it says, ADD was first listed in the Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980, while ADHD was recognized in

1987.

" This disease is described even earlier. It was described by psychiatric

societies. It was described in a lot of the best medical journals and we are

not the only ones on the market, " a Novartis spokesman told Reuters.

Methylphenidate, the active ingredient in Ritalin, is available in generic

form through Celltech Group Plc's Medeva unit. Shire Pharmaceuticals Group

Plc has a rival product to treat ADHD called Adderall.

Shares of all three companies were down in Thursday trade. Celltech moved

1-5/16 lower to 36-15/16 and Novartis AG edged 3/8 lower to 36-3/4 on the New

York Stock Exchange. Shire slipped 13/16 to 53-1/4 on NASDAQ.

Moran, a Novartis spokeswoman, told Reuters Health that the charges seem

to echo allegations in a suit filed in Texas earlier this year. Novartis said

that the allegation that it improperly influenced either the American

Psychiatric Association, the National Institutes of Health, or the US Food

and Drug Administration " has no merit. "

In related action, the chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee on

Thursday asked for a government probe of Ritalin abuse in the nation's

schools. Rep. Henry J. Hyde also expressed support for legislation requiring

states to certify that they have guidelines in place for ensuring against

prescription drug abuse on school premises.

In a letter to US Comptroller General , Rep. Hyde and Rep. Bill

McCollum (R-FL) asked the General Accounting Office to investigate the

prevalence of psychostimulant abuse in the elementary and secondary schools.

They proposed that the investigation look at the theft and sale of such

medications and identify " systematic factors " contributing to the abuse, such

as inadequate state laws.

ADHD diagnoses have swelled in recent years, fueling a heated debate over the

use of stimulants such as Ritalin. In 1996, 10% to 12% of all American

school-age boys were prescribed Ritalin, according to Hyde.

" We manufacture Ritalin for use in the treatment of ADHD and we want it to be

used appropriately, " Moran told Reuters Health. " So if there are issues with

appropriate use, we welcome whatever investigations are undertaken to solve

those problems, " she said.

Blessings,

Suzanne

Mom of (9 years) and Olivia Rose (19 months) and baby

phine due November 20.

" But if ye do not forgive, neither will your father which is in heaven

forgive your

trespasses. " Mark 11:26