§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions his Department or the Committee on Safety of Medicines has investigated allegations that a pharmaceutical company failed to report adverse reactions to one of its products; on what date each inquiry commenced; in each case whether or not the allegation was found to be generally justified; and when the allegations were justified, what action was taken.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 23 February 1988]: The Department is currently investigating allegations that two pharmaceutical companies failed to report known serious adverse reactions to the Committee on Safety Medicines. The investigations which began respectively in November 1986 and November 1987 are continuing. Because information on suspected under-reporting is held on files relating to specific products and containing full licensing information, a count of earlier possible instances cannot be made without disproportionate cost.