Deadly Suspicions
Original title: Unter Tödlichem Verdacht
Duration: 45’
Producer: Uwe J. Phenn / Nicole Virnich
Director: Ingolf Gritschneder
Participant: Anne Hufnagel
Company: united docs
Scientific field: Human Sciences / Health
Year: 2007
Country: Germany
The Bayer medication, Trasylol, has hit the headlines. In the USA, this drug is used almost by
default in bypass operations to staunch bleeding. However, in early 2006 alarm bells started
to ring. The renowned New England Journal of Medicine published a study which criticised
the preparation harshly: it said hat Trasylol caused grave side effects such as kidney damage,
heart attacks, or strokes more often than average. It was a surprising finding, as Trasylol had
been on the market for decades at that point. If these allegations were correct, thousands of
patients would have to fear and possible would already have suffered serious damage to their
health. A wave of lawsuits could threaten to overwhelm the Bayer company. In the medical
field Trasylolhad had long been a cause of dispute; its critics had also questioned the
increasingly broad indication and warned against the risks. The Bayer company itself had
performed its own study into the matter - but it was not published. This film investigates the
claims, speaks with experts and patients and casts light on the dark world of pharmaceuticals
and commerce.
Deadly Suspicions 
