J&J Natrecor marketing investigated

Justice Department officials delivered a subpoena to Johnson & Johnson yesterday, saying they want to know more about the company's marketing of the controversial heart failure drug Natrecor. There are concerns that the drug, which was approved conditionally by the FDA for inpatient use, is now being prescribed widely for outpatients. Some studies have suggested that Natrecor may lead to kidney damage in some cases. That has made Natrecor a topic of much debate in professional circles. A week ago, respected Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Eric Topol wrote an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine arguing that sales of the drug should be restricted until more evidence is available.

- see this story from The New York Times