Tequin

A much more believable explanation for pulling Tequin off the market is that BMS is anticipating the filing of an infinite number of lawsuits against the company in the near future so it figured it was a good idea to get out of Dodge.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

Tequin, (Gatifloxacin) belongs to the class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, typically used to treat lung, sinus and urinary tract infections and certain sexually transmitted diseases.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

According to Bristol's 2004 Annual Report, In 2003, sales of Tequin increased by 13% to $208 million, up from $184 million in 2002.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

If BMS is to be believed, it was not aware of any serious side effects associated with Tequin when it was approved for use in the US.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

By September 2000, the press release said, Tequin had been prescribed to more than 800,000 patients in the US and more than 1 million patients worldwide.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

BMS made a "recent decision to stop all our commercialization efforts" for Tequin and to return the rights to Kyorin, Dow quoted Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Bonfield, as saying.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

In a September 20, 2000 press release, the company announced that in the first 6 months, Tequin had been prescribed for more than 500,000 patients in the US within 6 months after it was approved by the FDA on December 17, 1999.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

On April 27, 2006, Dow Jones reported that Bristol-Myers Squibb had decided to stop selling Tequin, an antibiotic found to increase the risk of blood-sugar problems.

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

In a January 28, 2000, press release, the company said Tequin "has been shown in clinical trials to provide excellent efficacy and tolerability."

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006

It bragged that Tequin was the first quinolone antibiotic to achieve this milestone during the first 6 months on the market, citing audited data reported in June, 2000, by IMS Health, a supplier of market research to the pharmaceutical industry

Tequin's Serious Injuries - Bristol-Myers Feigns Ignorance 2006