During the last decade, more than 1,500 Americans have died from accidentally taking too much of an over-the-counter drug renowned for its safety: acetaminophen. Tens of thousands more have been harmed from liver damage associated with the drug.
Meanwhile, federal regulators have known about studies showing the risks associated with acetaminophen for decades. So has McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the Johnson & Johnson unit that built Tylenol into a billion-dollar brand. So how has acetaminophen become America’s most popular pain reliever, despite these risks?
Join ProPublica for a discussion of our investigation into how federal regulators delayed or failed to adopt measures designed to reduce the rising number of deaths and injuries from acetaminophen, and how McNeil, while it undeniably took steps to protect consumers, also fought repeatedly against safety warnings, dosage restrictions and other protective measures.
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m. ET
WHO: ProPublica reporter T. Christian Miller (@txtianmiller) liver disease specialist Dr. William Lee and pharmaceutical marketing expertPeterMax Miller.
