Novartis Japan admits concealing drug side effects<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/novartis-japan-admits-concealing-drug-side-effects-082905855.html"><img src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/UNGwT7kZzQ.znzEQMy8Ipw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/3919ef11a272090461bada1804da764c9cc9371e.jpg" width="130" height="86" alt="Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis headquarter building is pictured on January 28, 2009 in Basel" align="left" title="Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis headquarter building is pictured on January 28, 2009 in Basel" border="0" /></a>The Japanese unit of Swiss pharma giant Novartis has admitted it did not report more than 2,500 cases of serious side effects in patients using its leukaemia and other cancer drugs, reportedly including some fatalities. The revelations, which marked the latest in a string of scandals at the company's Japanese subsidiary, come after local authorities slapped the firm on the wrist, saying it had to clean up its operations. On Friday, Novartis issued a statement saying it had failed to report to regulators at least 2,579 cases where patients had suffered serious potential side effects from its drugs. Japanese media said the number of cases involved could rise as Novartis probes 6,000 other cases.</p><br clear="all"/>
Source: Novartis Japan admits concealing drug side effects (http://news.yahoo.com/novartis-japan-admits-concealing-drug-side-effects-082905855.html)