Thousands of men have been effected by the drug finasteride. Side effects like depression and sexual dysfuction can continue persistingly after cessation of the drug. This results in ruined lifes and even suicides. Merck has always claimed the drug propecia is safe, and has downplayed the risks.

Recently judge Brain Cody concealed evidence in a lawsuit against finasteride, suggesting Merck indeed is downplaying the risks of finasteride. Journalist Dan Levine (Reuters) found out critical information is being withheld from the public. With a simple copy paste trick he could dodge the concealing of a small part of the evidence.

Merck not only underreported the number of men who experienced sexual dysfunction while taking Propecia, but also concealed the duration of those problems. Citing the Merck analyst’s memo, the motion says that of the 23 study subjects who experienced sexual side effects during the last three years of the study, seven continued to experience symptoms when they completed it. The symptoms of nine others resolved after they stopped taking the drug, but the time it took was unknown, the motion says. And of the six men who dropped out of the study, it says, one still had symptoms at least 66 days after stopping treatment. It is “not fair or standard practice” to report results from only a portion of a multi-year study because it systematically underestimates the risk of any side effect. They could come up with unfair ''safe percentages''. 

The sealed document also cites a 2016 sworn deposition in which a plaintiffs’ lawyer asked former Merck marketing vice president Paul Howes: “So you knew internally that if these sexual adverse events were prolonged or lengthened or never went away, that that would be something that would impact sales in a negative way. Right?” “Yes,” Howes said.

Many men are suffering from post finasteride syndrome, and many more will come. We have to know what the real safety of this product is, otherwise this cycle continues. Concealing of this evidence is something that can not be accepted!

More info, article written by Dan Levine (reuters): https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-courts-secrecy-propecia/