Oraflex

ORAFLEX, A PAINKILLER for arthritis patients sold by Indianapolis, Indiana-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, is believed to have killed 49 people in the United States after the company illegally concealed evidence of several hundred deaths caused by the medication in overseas markets. Oraflex, known as Opren outside of the United States, went on the overseas market in 1980. From January 1981 to June 1982, Lilly received reports about problems with the medication in the United Kingdom and other countries where the drug was sold. The reports said that four people died from liver failure after taking Oraflex, three people suffered kidney or liver problems, and three developed jaundice. Lilly put Oraflex on the U.S. market in May 1982. On August 5, 1982, Britain banned the ...